Influence of moderate alcohol ingestion on gait

Influence of moderate alcohol ingestion on gait

Journal Article

2008

Sport Sciences for Health

4

1-2

21 - 26

2008

18247490 (ISSN)

The influence of alcohol ingestion on neuromotor control has yet to be defined completely. In this study, we observed gait during normal walking and walking with a specific tempo before and after alcohol ingestion. Time was allowed to examine the influence of moderate alcohol ingestion on gait properties. The gait properties, physiological responses (blood pressure, heart rate) and one-leg stance with eyes closed of 15 healthy young adults (average age: 21.9 years) were recorded just before and 10, 20 and 30 min after alcohol ingestion (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) = 1.4 - 1.7 ml/g). Participants' gait was recorded under normal gait and controlled tempo gait conditions. Participants were asked to walk at a self-selected speed on a 10-m straight walkway in the former condition. For the latter condition, they were asked to walk the same walkway at a tempo of 40 bpm set by a metronome. This selected tempo greatly differs from the normal tempo of 120 bpm, which is highly automated in human gait. In both conditions, two trials were conducted. Heart rate significantly increased 10 min after the alcohol ingestion, and one-leg stance duration significantly decreased after 20 min as compared with pre-ingestion. Stride, gait velocity and cadence significantly decreased in normal gait, but not in the controlled tempo condition. In conclusion, even healthy young adults show a decline in static balance ability, step stride, gait velocity and cadence with moderate alcohol ingestion (slightly drunk or initial drunkenness). This phenomenon is marked at 20 min after alcohol ingestion. However, gait properties are kept stable by voluntary adjustment of walking pace (voluntarily adapting to a uniform tempo), even with moderate alcohol ingestion.