scholarly journals Postural Steadiness and Ankle Force Variability in Peripheral Neuropathy

Motor Control ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger J. Paxton ◽  
Caitlin Feldman-Kothe ◽  
Megan K. Trabert ◽  
Leah N. Hitchcock ◽  
Raoul F. Reiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Muscle Force ◽  
Force Variability ◽  
Output Variability ◽  
Ankle Muscles ◽  
Motor Output Variability ◽  
Ankle Muscle ◽  
Postural Steadiness

Introduction:The purpose was to determine the effect of peripheral neuropathy (PN) on motor output variability for ankle muscles of older adults, and the relation between ankle motor variability and postural stability in PN patients.Methods:Older adults with (O-PN) and without PN (O), and young adults (Y) underwent assessment of standing postural stability and ankle muscle force steadiness.Results:O-PN displayed impaired ankle muscle force control and postural stability compared with O and Y groups. For O-PN, the amplitude of plantarflexor force fluctuations was moderately correlated with postural stability under no-vision conditions (r = .54, p = .01).Discussion:The correlation of variations in ankle force with postural stability in PN suggests a contribution of ankle muscle dyscontrol to the postural instability that impacts physical function for older adults with PN.

scholarly journals Response to “Motor Output Variability Impairs Driving Ability in Older Adults”

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-268
Author(s):  
Arne Stinchcombe ◽  
Anne Dickerson ◽  
Bruce Weaver ◽  
Michel Bédard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Motor Output ◽  
Driving Ability ◽  
Output Variability ◽  
Motor Output Variability

scholarly journals Motor Output Variability Impairs Driving Ability in Older Adults: Reply to Stinchcombe, Dickerson, Weaver, and Bedard

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-270
Author(s):  
Evangelos Christou ◽  
Basma Yacoubi ◽  
Changki Kim ◽  
Hwasil Moon ◽  
Tanya Onushko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Motor Output ◽  
Driving Ability ◽  
Output Variability ◽  
Motor Output Variability

scholarly journals Motor Output Variability Impairs Driving Ability in Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 1676-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Lodha ◽  
Hwasil Moon ◽  
Changki Kim ◽  
Tanya Onushko ◽  
Evangelos A. Christou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Motor Output ◽  
Driving Ability ◽  
Output Variability ◽  
Motor Output Variability

scholarly journals Reduced Achilles Tendon Stiffness Disrupts Calf Muscle Neuromechanics in Elderly Gait

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Krupenevich ◽  
Owen N. Beck ◽  
Gregory S. Sawicki ◽  
Jason R. Franz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Calf Muscle ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Joint Work ◽  
Tendon Stiffness ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ankle Muscle ◽  
Metabolic Energy Expenditure

Older adults walk slower and with a higher metabolic energy expenditure than younger adults. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that age-related declines in Achilles tendon stiffness increase the metabolic cost of walking due to less economical calf muscle contractions and increased proximal joint work. This viewpoint may motivate interventions to restore ankle muscle-tendon stiffness, improve walking mechanics, and reduce metabolic cost in older adults.

A novel balance exercise program for postural stability in older adults: A pilot study

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. Kaesler ◽  
R.B. Mellifont ◽  
P. Swete Kelly ◽  
D.R. Taaffe
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Balance Exercise

scholarly journals Losing touch: age-related changes in plantar skin sensitivity, lower limb cutaneous reflex strength, and postural stability in older adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1848-1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Peters ◽  
Monica D. McKeown ◽  
Mark G. Carpenter ◽  
J. Timothy Inglis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Detection Thresholds ◽  
Cutaneous Reflex ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Changes

Age-related changes in the density, morphology, and physiology of plantar cutaneous receptors negatively impact the quality and quantity of balance-relevant information arising from the foot soles. Plantar perceptual sensitivity declines with age and may predict postural instability; however, alteration in lower limb cutaneous reflex strength may also explain greater instability in older adults and has yet to be investigated. We replicated the age-related decline in sensitivity by assessing monofilament and vibrotactile (30 and 250 Hz) detection thresholds near the first metatarsal head bilaterally in healthy young and older adults. We additionally applied continuous 30- and 250-Hz vibration to drive mechanically evoked reflex responses in the tibialis anterior muscle, measured via surface electromyography. To investigate potential relationships between plantar sensitivity, cutaneous reflex strength, and postural stability, we performed posturography in subjects during quiet standing without vision. Anteroposterior and mediolateral postural stability decreased with age, and increases in postural sway amplitude and frequency were significantly correlated with increases in plantar detection thresholds. With 30-Hz vibration, cutaneous reflexes were observed in 95% of young adults but in only 53% of older adults, and reflex gain, coherence, and cumulant density at 30 Hz were lower in older adults. Reflexes were not observed with 250-Hz vibration, suggesting this high-frequency cutaneous input is filtered out by motoneurons innervating tibialis anterior. Our findings have important implications for assessing the risk of balance impairment in older adults.

scholarly journals Foot Problems in Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Muchna ◽  
Bijan Najafi ◽  
Christopher S. Wendel ◽  
Michael Schwenk ◽  
David G. Armstrong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Wearable Sensor ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Foot Problems

Background:Research on foot problems and frailty is sparse and could advance using wearable sensor–based measures of gait, balance, and physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of foot problems on the likelihood of falls, frailty syndrome, motor performance, and PA in community-dwelling older adults.Methods:Arizona Frailty Cohort Study participants (community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years without baseline cognitive deficit, severe movement disorders, or recent stroke) underwent Fried frailty and foot assessment. Gait, balance (bipedal eyes open and eyes closed), and spontaneous PA over 48 hours were measured using validated wearable sensor technologies.Results:Of 117 participants, 41 (35%) were nonfrail, 56 (48%) prefrail, and 20 (17%) frail. Prevalence of foot problems (pain, peripheral neuropathy, or deformity) increased significantly as frailty category worsened (any problem: 63% in nonfrail, 80% in prefrail [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0], and 95% in frail [OR = 8.3]; P = .03 for trend) due to associations between foot problems and both weakness and exhaustion. Foot problems were associated with fear of falling but not with fall history or incident falls over 6 months. Foot pain and peripheral neuropathy were associated with lower gait speed and stride length; increased double support time; increased mediolateral sway of center of mass during walking, age adjusted; decreased eyes open sway of center of mass and ankle during quiet standing, age adjusted; and lower percentage walking, percentage standing, and total steps per day.Conclusions:Foot problems were associated with frailty level and decreased motor performance and PA. Wearable technology is a practical way to screen for deterioration in gait, balance, and PA that may be associated with foot problems. Routine assessment and management of foot problems could promote earlier intervention to retain motor performance and manage fear of falling in older adults, which may ultimately improve healthy aging and reduce risk of frailty.

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