The influence of auditory stimulation on whole body variability in healthy older adults during gait

Acoustic stimulation appears to be a promising strategy in reducing the risk of falling in older adults, demonstrating effectiveness in improving stability. However, its impact on movement variability, another crucial indicator of fall risk, seems to be limited. This study aims to assess movement va...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2024-07, Vol.172, p.112222, Article 112222
Main Authors: Minino, R., Liparoti, M., Romano, A., Mazzeo, F., Sorrentino, P., Tafuri, D., Troisi Lopez, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation - methods
Acoustics
Adults
Aged
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Fractals
Gait
Gait - physiology
Gait analysis
Humans
Kinematics
Male
Middle Aged
Movement Variability
Network Theory
Nodes
Older people
Physiology
Rhythmic Acoustic Stimulation
Stimulation
Walking
Walking - physiology
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Summary:Acoustic stimulation appears to be a promising strategy in reducing the risk of falling in older adults, demonstrating effectiveness in improving stability. However, its impact on movement variability, another crucial indicator of fall risk, seems to be limited. This study aims to assess movement variability during walking in a cohort of healthy older adults exposed to three different frequencies of acoustic stimulation (90%, 100% and 110% of each subject’s average cadence). Using a systemic approach based on network theory, which considers the intricate relationships between all body segments, we constructed connectivity matrices composed of nodes, represented by bony landmarks, and edges, consisting of the standardised covariance of accelerations between each pair of nodes. By introducing a new metric called Similarity Score (S-score), we quantified the ability of each individual to repeat the same motor pattern at each gait cycle under different experimental conditions. The study revealed that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) at 100% and 90% of the mean cadence significantly increased the S-scores compared to the baseline. These results highlight the effects of RAS in increasing gait repeatability in healthy older adults, with a focus on global kinematics.
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112222