Stepping Responses in Young and Older Adults Following a Perturbation to the Support Surface During Gait

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence perturbation direction has on postural responses during overground gait, and whether these responses are age related. Differences in stepping patterns following perturbations of the support surface were examined in the frontal and sagittal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of motor behavior 2017-05, Vol.49 (3), p.288-298
Main Authors: McIntosh, Emily I., Zettel, John L., Vallis, Lori Ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aging - physiology
Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology
Female
Gait
Gait - physiology
Humans
instability
Male
older adults
Older people
platform perturbations
Postural Balance - physiology
stepping responses
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:The objective of this work was to investigate the influence perturbation direction has on postural responses during overground gait, and whether these responses are age related. Differences in stepping patterns following perturbations of the support surface were examined in the frontal and sagittal planes during forward walking. Eleven young and 10 older adults completed Mini BESTest, hip strength tests, and 45 perturbed walking trials, triggered on heel contact. Lateral perturbations were more challenging to postural stability for both groups. Step length measures showed young adults recovered in the step proceeding the perturbation, while older adults needed additional steps to regain balance. Young adults arrested center of mass movement by producing larger step widths than older adults following the support surface perturbation.
ISSN:0022-2895
1940-1027
DOI:10.1080/00222895.2016.1204262