The Impact of Walking Meditation on Gait Symmetry Index in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment
Sun Seek Min, Han-Suk Lee, Hee Chang Seon
Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine November 30, 2025 DOI: 10.13066/kspm.2025.20.4.125 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Older adults aged 65 years and older with cognitive impairment attending a day-care center |
| Interventions | Walking meditation Regular indoor walking |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Measures | Gait symmetry index |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive impairment Gait Cognition Index typography Symmetry geometry |
| Key findings | Walking meditation significantly improved the gait symmetry index compared to regular walking in older adults with cognitive impairment, indicating a potential benefit for gait function. |
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the effects of a six-week walking meditation program on the gait symmetry index in older adults aged 65 years and older with cognitive impairment.METHODS: A total of 16 older adults attending a day-care center participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 8) or the control group (n = 8).The experimental group performed a walking meditation program twice a week for 30 minutes per session in a quiet, designated space.The control group engaged in regular indoor walking under the same frequency and duration.Before and after the intervention, gait parameters-