Sensory Interactions for Head and Trunk Control in Space in Young and Older Adults During Normal and Narrow-Base Walking

Motor Control ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Zhang ◽  
Nandini Deshpande

Fifteen young (20–30 years old) and 15 older (>65 years old) healthy participants were recruited to investigate age-related differences in head and trunk control under suboptimal vestibular conditions (galvanic vestibular stimulation, or GVS) and vision conditions during normal and narrow-based walking. Head-roll velocity decreased in the blurred-vision condition and marginally increased with GVS in older but not in young participants. Head pitch increased, whereas head-roll velocity decreased in narrow-base walking. Trunk pitch, trunk-pitch velocity, and gait speed increased with GVS, whereas trunk-pitch velocity and gait speed decreased in narrow-base walking. Marginally increased head-roll velocity in the older participants possibly suggests decreased integrative ability of the central nervous system in elderly people. The changes in head control during narrow-base walking may be an attempt to simplify the interpretation of the vestibular signal and increase otolith sensitivity. The complexity of controlling the trunk in the mediolateral direction was suggested by different strategies used for trunk control in different conditions.

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 826-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilee M. Cashman
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gülçimen Soylu ◽  
Güzin Çakmak ◽  
Yusuf Yalvaç ◽  
Funda Datlı Yakaryılmaz ◽  
Zeynel Abidin Öztürk

Background: Hyperkyphosis is one of the commonly seen disabling problems in the elderly. Loss of muscle mass and function is supposed to be related to age-related hyperkyphosis. We aimed to explain the relationship between sarcopenia and hyperkyphosis in old patients in this study. Methods: 142 patients who were applied to polyclinic of geriatrics of Gaziantep University Hospital were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Hyperkyphotic patients were included in the study group, and non-hyperkyphotic patients were included in the control group by experienced staff. Their mean age was 72±6.9. Thirty-six of them were male, and 106 of them were female. The EWGSOP 2 criteria were used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia[1]. SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls) test were done to all patients. The handgrip test was applied to patients that had a score ≥4 from SARC-F. We did bioimpedance analysis to the probable sarcopenic patients who diagnosed with handgrip assessment. Four-meter gait speed test, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Tinetti Test was applied to all patients to evaluate gait speed. Hyperkyphosis was evaluated with the bloc method in the Rancho Bernardo Study[2]. Numbers of the blocks used for keeping patients in neutral position were recorded. We defined hyperkyphosis as the state that one or more blocks needed to maintain the patient's neutral position on the radiology table. Results: Hyperkyphosis was positively related to lower extremity dysfunction which was assessed by 4-m-gait speed test (p=0.018) and TUG (p=0.042). A significant relationship between gait speed and hyperkyphosis was revealed when evaluated with one-way MANOVA (F [5,92] =2.588, p=0.031, Wilk's Λ=0.877, partial η2=0.123). We found a significant relationship between TUG and the number of blocks needed to restore neutral position by linear regression analyses (r2 =0.059, p=0.044). We found a cut-off value of gait speed as 0.65 m/s for presence of hyperkyphosis (sensitivity:60%, specificity:70%, CI=95%, p<0.001, AUC=0.710). Tinetti balance, gait and total test scores were also negatively related to hyperkyphosis (p=0.006; 0,027; 0.031). Conclusions: In previous studies, vertebral compression fractures, degenerative disc disease, weakness of back extensor muscles and genetic predisposition were suggested as predisposing factors for age related kyperkyphosis[3]. Different from these in our study, lower extremity muscle function was found to be related to age-related hyperkyphosis. More studies on this subject could be helpful. Hyperkifosis prognosis in severe sarcopenic groups might be a new research topic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Santana da Silva ◽  
Reginaldo Kisho Fukuchi ◽  
Renato Naville Watanabe ◽  
Claudiane Arakaki Fukuchi ◽  
Marcos Duarte

Abstract Structural and functional changes in the foot have been associated with age-related changes in gait mechanics, but walking speed may be a confounding factor in this relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging and speed on the ankle–foot power output during level walking. The effects of speed and aging on features of the mechanical power and work of the ankle and foot were quantified with a gait analysis of 24 young and 16 older individuals walking at different speeds. We observed gait speed having a significant effect on all the investigated features: peak power and positive and negative work of the ankle, foot, and sum of the ankle and foot (average effect size: 0.64 ± 0.22, from 0.26 to 0.87). We observed age having no effect on these same features (average effect size: 0.23 ± 0.12, from 0.03 to 0.39), with the exception of age’s effect when combined with speed on the negative work of the foot. We performed additional analysis to illustrate how the speed can become a confounding factor to the understanding of the age effect on the gait biomechanics. Based on the influence of gait speed on the mechanical power of the ankle–foot system, it is essential that studies control for the effect of gait speed if there is interest in understanding age-related effects, particularly when studying frail older individuals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 771-772
Author(s):  
Kenneth Manning ◽  
Teresa Kopp ◽  
Kris ann Oursler ◽  
Michelle McDonald ◽  
Miriam Morey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Gerofit, an exercise program for older Veterans, is undergoing national dissemination (17 sites in 6 years). Four sites have accrued 4-year functional outcomes (gait speed, 8-foot-up-and-go, 30-second chair stand, and six-minute walk). Methods: Functional assessments were administered quarterly in first year and annually thereafter. Individuals with baseline and at least two follow up measures were included for analysis (n=587). Means were gathered across each timepoint. Results: Mean values for functional assessments from baseline to 4 year were as follows: gait speed m/s- 1.04, 1.12, 1.13, 1.13, 1.09, 1.07, 1.13; 8 ft-up-and-go seconds- 7.6, 6.82, 6.69, 6.69, 7.29, 7.29, 7.51; 30 second chair stands 11.88, 14.06, 14.72, 14.89, 14.69, 14.71, 14.96; and six-minute-walk yards- 499, 532, 541, 544, 531, 530, 556. All follow up measures were significantly improved over baseline (P&lt;.01) and superior to normative age-related decline. Implications: Results indicate that exercise promotes compression of morbidity and improved functional health.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byungjoo Noh ◽  
Changhong Youm ◽  
Myeounggon Lee ◽  
Hwayoung Park

Background Several studies have reported the association between gait and global cognitive function; however, there is no study explaining the age-specific gait characteristics of older women and association between those characteristics and global cognitive function by age-specific differences and gait speed modification. The aim of this study was to examine age-specific differences in gait characteristics and global cognitive function in older women as well as identify gait domains strongly associated with global cognitive function in older women based on gait speed modification. Methods One hundred sixty-four female participants aged 65–85 years were examined. Participants were assessed for global cognitive function through the mini-mental state examination. They also performed three trials of the overground walking test along a straight 20 m walkway. Inertial measurement unit sensors with shoe-type data loggers on both the left and right outsoles were used to measure gait characteristics. Results The pace at all speeds and the variability and phase at faster speeds were altered in women aged >75 years (all pace domain parameters, p < 0.05); variability and phase highly depended on age (all p < 0.05). Variability at slower speeds (β = −0.568 and p = 0.006) and the phase at the preferred (β = −0.471 and p = 0.005) and faster speeds (β = −0.494 and p = 0.005) were associated with global cognitive function in women aged >75 years. Discussion The variability and phase domains at faster speeds were considered to identify gait changes that accompany aging. In addition, the decreases in global cognitive function are associated with increased variability and phase domains caused by changes in gait speed in older women. Conclusion Our results are considered useful for understanding age-related gait characteristics with global cognitive function in old women.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huang-Chun Liu ◽  
Der‐Sheng Han ◽  
Chih-Chin Hsu ◽  
Jong-Shyan Wang

Abstract Background: Age-related sarcopenia meaningfully increases the risks of functional limitations and mortality in the elderly. Although circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) are associated with aging-related cellular senescence and inflammation, the relationships between c-miRNAs and sarcopenia in the elderly remain unclear. This study investigates whether circulating myo-miRNAs and inflammation-related miRNAs are associated with sarcopenia in the elderly. Methods: This investigation recruited 77 eligible subjects (41 males and 36 females) from 597 community-dwelling older adults, and then divided into normal (n=24), dynapenic (loss of muscular function without mass, n=35), and sarcopenic groups (loss of muscular function with mass, n=18). Moreover, myo- (c-miRNA-133a and c-miRNA-486) and inflammation- (c-miRNA-21 and c-miRNA-146a) related miRNAs, as well as, inflammatory-related cytokine and peroxide levels in plasma were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively. Results: Sarcopenic group exhibited lesser skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), handgrip strength, and gait speed, as well as, lower c-miR-486 and c-miR-146a levels, compared to those of normal and dynapenic groups. Moreover, c-miR-486 level was positively related to SMI (r=0.334, P=0.003), whereas c-miR-146a level was positively associated with SMI (r=0.240, P=0.035) and handgrip strength (r=0.253, P=0.027). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis for predicting sarcopenia, the area under the curve in c-miR-486 was 0.708 (95% confidence interval: 0.561-0.855, P=0.008) and c-miR-146a was 0.676 (95% CI: 0.551-0.801, P=0.024). However, no significant relationships were observed between SMI/handgrip strength/gait speed and plasma myeloperoxidase/interleukin-1𝛽/interleukin-6 levels. Conclusions: Myo-miRNA (c-miR-486) and inflammation-related miRNA (c-miR-146a) are superior to inflammatory peroxide/cytokines in plasma for serving as critical biomarkers of age-related sarcopenia.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9463
Author(s):  
Byungjoo Noh ◽  
Changhong Youm ◽  
Myeounggon Lee ◽  
Sang-Myung Cheon

Background No previous study has examined the age-dependent characteristics of gait in individuals between 50 and 79 years simultaneously in healthy individuals and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) over continuous gait cycles. This study aimed to investigate age-related differences in gait characteristics on individuals age ranged 50–79 years, including individuals with PD, during a 1-minute treadmill walking session. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the differences associated with spatiotemporal gait parameters and PD compared in age-matched individuals. Methods This study included 26 individuals with PD and 90 participants age ranged 50–79 years. The treadmill walking test at a self-preferred speed was performed for 1 min. The embedded inertial measurement unit sensor in the left and right outsoles-based system was used to collect gait characteristics based on tri-axial acceleration and tri-axial angular velocities. Results Participants aged >60 years had a decreased gait speed and shortened stride and step, which may demonstrate a distinct shift in aging (all p < 0.005). Individuals with PD showed more of a decrease in variables with a loss of consistency, including gait asymmetry (GA), phase coordination index (PCI) and coefficient of variation (CV) of all variables, than age-matched individuals (all p < 0.001). Gait speed, stride and step length, stance phase, variability, GA and PCI were the variables that highly depended on age and PD. Discussion Older adults could be considered those older than 60 years of age when gait alterations begin, such as a decreased gait speed as well as shortened stride and step length. On the other hand, a loss of consistency in spatiotemporal parameters and a higher GA and PCI could be used to identify individuals with PD. Thus, the CV of all spatiotemporal parameters, GA and PCI during walking could play an important role and be useful in identifying individuals with PD. Conclusion This study provided the notable aging pattern characteristics of gait in individuals >50 years, including individuals with PD. Increasing age after 60 years is associated with deterioration in spatiotemporal parameters of gait during continuous 1-minute treadmill walking. Additionally, GA, PCI and the CV of all variables could be used to identify PD which would be placed after 70 years of age. It may be useful to determine the decline of gait performance in general and among individuals with PD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 216-217
Author(s):  
Erika Friedmann ◽  
Nancy Gee ◽  
Eleanor Simonsick ◽  
Erik Barr ◽  
Barbara Resnick ◽  
...  

Abstract Successful aging depends on avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high physical and cognitive function, and psychological adaptation. Research examining the relationship of pet ownership (PO) or human-animal interaction (HAI) to human health supports contributions to these successful ag-ing-related outcomes at some point in the life-cycle, mostly in populations with diseases or disabili-ties. We examine the contributions of PO to maintaining physical capacity among generally healthy community-dwelling older participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Partici-pants’ [N=637, mean age=68.3 years (SD=9.6), pet owners N=149] completed a standardized physi-cal function test battery (among other measures) every 1-4 years and a ten-year PO history. Linear mixed, or generalized linear mixed, models with time varying PO were used to examine change in successful aging-related outcomes over up to 13 years [mean=7.5, (SD=3.6)] according to PO. Physi-cal function declined across all domains examined, but was observed to be less severe with PO in overall physical performance (p&lt;0.001), rapid gait speed (p=0.041), 400-meter walk time (p&lt;0.001), and reported physical wellbeing (p=0.032). No differences were observed for grip strength (p=0.56), usual gait speed (p=0.07), and leisure time physical activity (p=0.26) after con-trolling for age. This study provides the first longitudinal evidence that PO may promote successful aging among community-dwelling healthy older adults by moderating age-related declines in physical functional status in late-life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S89-S89
Author(s):  
Caterina Rosano ◽  
Stephanie Studenski ◽  
Nicolaas Bohnen ◽  
Andrea Rosso

Abstract Strategies to reduce gait slowing in frail older adults are urgently needed. Higher dopaminergic (DA) signaling is emerging as a protecting factor against age-related gait slowing, in the absence of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). DA signaling is potentially modifiable, thereby offering promising novel strategies to reduce gait slowing. In 3,752 PD-free participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study (72.3 years, 81% white, 39% male), we measured gait speed (usual pace, 15 feet), frailty (Fried definition), and genetic polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, rs4680), an enzyme regulating tonic brain DA levels. Multivariable linear regression models of COMT predicting gait speed were adjusted for age, gender, BMI, ankle-arm index, vision, and arthritis. Strength, education, medications, pulmonary, cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases, diabetes, mood, and cognition were considered as additional covariates. We examined the full cohort and the subgroup with frailty (n=222), without and with race-stratification to address racial differences in allele frequencies. Average (SE) gait speed was 0.88 (0.003) and 0.58 (0.01) m/sec in the full cohort and the frail subgroup, respectively. COMT was linearly associated with gait speed; gait was faster for met/met (higher DA signaling) and slower for val/val (lower DA signaling) participants. In adjusted models, differences between these two groups were: 0.02 (0.01) m/sec in the full cohort (p=0.4); 0.07(0.02) m/sec in the frail subgroup (p=0.02); 0.10 (0.02) m/sec in white with frailty (p=0.01). COMT genotyping may help identify frail adults who are less vulnerable to gait impairments. Studies of frailty should examine whether higher DA signaling offers resilience against age-related gait slowing.


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