The reliability of measures provided by the Unstable Platform for Balance Analysis in young adults with and without visual information

Abstract Purpose Human sensory and motor systems deteriorate with age. When walking, older adults may therefore find it more difficult to adjust their steps to new visual information, especially considering that such adjustments require control of balance as well as of foot trajectory. Our study investigates the effects of ageing on lower limb responses to unpredictable target shifts. Methods Participants walked on a treadmill with projected stepping targets that occasionally shifted in the medial or lateral direction. The shifts occurred at a random moment during the early half of the swing phase of either leg. Kinematic, kinetic and muscle activity data were collected. Results Older adults responded later and corrected for a smaller proportion of the shift than young adults. The order in which muscle activation changed was similar in both groups, with responses of gluteus medius and semitendinosus from about 120 to 140 ms after the shift. Most muscles responded slightly later to lateral target shifts in the older adults than in the young adults, but this difference was not observed for medial target shifts. Ageing delayed the behavioural responses more than it did the electromyographic (EMG) responses. Conclusions Our study suggests that older adults can adjust their walking to small target shifts during the swing phase, but not as well as young adults. Furthermore, muscle strength probably plays a substantial role in the changes in online adjustments during ageing.

Download Full-text

Effects of different behavioral information in the intrinsic dynamics of visual information and body sway

Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior ◽

10.20338/bjmb.v2i1.16 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 40-50

Author(s):

Alaercio Perotti Júnior ◽

José Angelo Barela ◽

Paula Fávaro Polastri ◽

Go Tani

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Postural Control ◽

Opposite Direction ◽

Visual Information ◽

Cross Correlation ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Body Sway ◽

Time Lags ◽

Behavioral Information

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of information and instruction on the intrinsic dynamics of postural control functioning in children. Ten children and 10 young adults stood upright inside of a moving room that remained stationary or was discretely moved. Fourteen trials were collected, with the first and the last one without any movement of the room. In the others, the room was moved and the participants were correct or wrongly informed about its movement. The participants were also instructed to not move, move together, or move in an opposite direction of the room. Body sway due to the movement of the room and time to reversal were used to examine the visual manipulation influence. Cross-correlation coefficients and time lags between the room'ss movement and body sway were calculated. The results revealed that visual manipulation induced body sway in both children and adults. Information about the room's movement and instruction to perform an action decreased the effect of visual manipulation on body sway, with instruction to perform an action being more efficient than information about the room's movement. Children use information and instruction to alter visual manipulation influence, however, not as well as adults do.

Download Full-text

Enhanced Speechreading Performance in Young Hearing Aid Users in China

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2018_jslhr-s-18-0153 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 307-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jianghua Lei ◽

Huina Gong ◽

Liang Chen

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Speech Perception ◽

Hearing Impairment ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Visual Information ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Visual Speech ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Visual Speech Perception

Purpose The study was designed primarily to determine if the use of hearing aids (HAs) in individuals with hearing impairment in China would affect their speechreading performance. Method Sixty-seven young adults with hearing impairment with HAs and 78 young adults with hearing impairment without HAs completed newly developed Chinese speechreading tests targeting 3 linguistic levels (i.e., words, phrases, and sentences). Results Groups with HAs were more accurate at speechreading than groups without HA across the 3 linguistic levels. For both groups, speechreading accuracy was higher for phrases than words and sentences, and speechreading speed was slower for sentences than words and phrases. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between years of HA use and the accuracy of speechreading performance; longer HA use was associated with more accurate speechreading. Conclusions Young HA users in China have enhanced speechreading performance over their peers with hearing impairment who are not HA users. This result argues against the perceptual dependence hypothesis that suggests greater dependence on visual information leads to improvement in visual speech perception.

Download Full-text

Effects of Initial Starting Distance and Gap Characteristics on Children’s and Young Adults’ Velocity Regulation When Intercepting Moving Gaps

Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ◽

10.1177/0018720819867501 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (6) ◽

pp. 1002-1018

Author(s):

Hyun Chae Chung ◽

Gyoojae Choi ◽

Muhammad Azam

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Visual Information ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Moving Vehicle ◽

Initial Distance ◽

Immersive Virtual Environment ◽

Moving Vehicles ◽

Gap Characteristics ◽

Initial Starting ◽

Vehicle Size

Objective This study investigated how children and young adults regulate their velocity when crossing roads under varying traffic conditions. Background To cross roads safely, pedestrians must adapt their movements to the moving vehicles around them while tightly coupling their movement to visual information. Method Using an Oculus Rift, 16 children and 16 young adults walked on a treadmill and intercepted gaps between two simulated moving vehicles in an immersive virtual environment. We varied the participants’ initial distance from the curb to the interception point, as well as gap characteristics, including gap size and vehicle size. Results Varying the initial distance led to systematic adjustments in participants’ approach velocities. The inter-vehicle gap and the vehicle size affected the crossing position induced by the initial distance. However, participants did not systematically scale their positions according to the initial distance in narrow gap. Notably, children did not finely tune their movements when they approached wide gap from a closer distance or when they approached the large vehicle from closer distance. Conclusion Children were less precise in coupling their movements to the moving vehicle in complex traffic environments. In particular, large moving vehicles approaching at closer distances can pose risks when children cross roads. Application These findings suggest the need for an intervention program to improve children’s skill in perceiving larger vehicles and timing their movements when crossing roads. We suggest using an interactive virtual reality system to practice this skill.

Download Full-text

Cognitive Distraction at Mealtime Decreases Amount Consumed in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Crossover Exploratory Study

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 1324-1329

Author(s):

Carli A Liguori ◽

Cassandra J Nikolaus ◽

Sharon M Nickols-Richardson

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Visual Information ◽

Adult Population ◽

Rest Period ◽

Task Assignment ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Initial Condition ◽

Cognitive Distraction ◽

Young Adult Population ◽

Analogue Scales

ABSTRACT Background Environmental distractions have been shown to affect eating patterns. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a cognitive distraction on amount, preference, and memory of food consumed and perceptions of fullness, hunger, and enjoyment of food in a healthy young-adult population. Methods A randomized controlled crossover study of 119 healthy adults (20.2 ± 1.4 y; 57% women; 48% white) assigned participants to begin under either the distracted (DIS, n = 55) or control (CON, n = 64) conditions. DIS participants consumed a meal of quiche while completing a Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) for 15 min. CON participants ate without any task assignment. After a 30-min rest period, participants were offered a snack and given 5 min to eat ad libitum. Participants completed a survey assessing fullness, hunger, and enjoyment of the meal using 100 mm visual analogue scales. One week later, participants completed the opposite condition. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results Those in DIS consumed 13 g less of the meal (P < 0.001), even when comparing by initial condition (P < 0.001) and adjusting for sex (P < 0.001). A carryover effect of initial condition was found (P < 0.001), such that participants first assigned to DIS condition consumed less (95.2 ± 61.7 g) when distracted compared to all other condition combinations (127–133 g). Those in DIS had decreased accuracy for both memory of quiche received (absolute difference, 1.1 ± 1.6 compared with 0.7 ± 1.2 for CON, P < 0.001) and memory of quiche consumed (0.8 ± 1.1 for DIS compared with 0.7 ± 1.2 for CON, P = 0.007). Conclusions When distracted, healthy young adults consumed significantly less food and their memory of the meal was dampened. These findings underscore the potential importance of cognitive distraction in affecting food intake. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04078607.

Download Full-text

Effects of a Dance Program on Static Balance on a Platform in Young Adults With Down Syndrome

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.2015-0048 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 233-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lourdes Gutiérrez-Vilahú ◽

Núria Massó-Ortigosa ◽

Lluís Costa-Tutusaus ◽

Miriam Guerra-Balic ◽

Ferran Rey-Abella

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Down Syndrome ◽

Young People ◽

Training Program ◽

Visual Information ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Standing Position ◽

Static Balance ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Before And After

The purpose of the study was to compare postural control in static standing in young adults with and without Down syndrome (DS), with eyes closed and eyesopen, before and after an 18-wk dance-based training program. The study included 11 young people with DS age 20.5 (1.3) yr and 11 without DS age 20.2 (2.0) yr.All parameters were recorded before and after the training program. Parameters related to center of pressure (COP; closed and open eyes) were recorded from aplatform with the participant in bipedal standing position during 30 s. The results suggest that young people with DS have worse COP control in both visual conditions (closed and open eyes) and are affected by visual information in a different way than their peers without DS. In the group of young adults with DS, thedance-based training program improved some parameters related to the use of visual input in controlling COP.

Download Full-text

Comparison of body balance in active elderly and young adults

ConScientiae Saúde ◽

10.5585/conssaude.v13n3.4943 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 323-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clarissa Stefani Teixeira ◽

Cleber Fernando Rebelatto ◽

Rubian Diego Andrade ◽

Érico Felden Pereira ◽

Luis Felipe Dias Lopes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Visual Information ◽

Daily Living ◽

Aging Process ◽

The Elderly ◽

Young Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Body Balance

Introduction: The aging process generates changes in physiology and in the performance of daily living activities. Objective: To compare the postural control of active seniors and young adults with and without visual information, by means of a force platform. Method: A cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out with 66 subjects divided into two groups: G1, young adults with an average age of 20.33 (1.86) years; and G2, active elderly individuals with an average age of 67.42 (6.2) years. Results: The displacements observed with the use of vision were 0.84 cm (AP) and 0.63 cm (ML) in the younger group and 1.33 cm (AP) and 1.02 cm (MP) in the group of active seniors. Without the use of visual information: 0.95 cm (AP) and 0.68 cm (ML) in the young group and 1.46 cm (AP) and 1.21 cm (ML) in the elderly group. The average displacement exhibited significant differences (p

Download Full-text

POSTURAL SWAY IN LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTEES AND OLDER ADULTS MAY SUGGEST INCREASED FALL RISK IN AMPUTEES

Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal ◽

10.33137/cpoj.v3i2.33804 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Hamid Bateni

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Frequency Domain ◽

Visual Information ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Proprioceptive Information ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Eyes Open

BACKGROUND: Falls can be detrimental to overall health and quality of life for lower extremity amputees. Most previous studies of postural steadiness focus on quantification of time series variables extracted from postural sway signals. While it has been suggested that frequency domain variables can provide more valuable information, few current studies have evaluated postural sway in amputees using frequency domain variables. OBJECTIVE: To determine time and frequency domain variables of postural sway among lower extremity amputees vs. healthy young and older adult controls. METHODOLOGY: Participants were assigned to 3 groups: lower extremity amputation (n=6), healthy young adults (n=10), and healthy older adults (n=10). Standing barefoot on a force platform, each individual completed 3 trials of each of 3 standing conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, and standing on a foam balance pad. Time and frequency domain variables of postural sway were computed and analyzed. RESULTS: Comparison of older adults, younger adults, and amputees on the three conditions of standing eyes open, eyes closed, and on foam revealed significant differences between groups. Mean mediolateral (ML) sway distance from the center of pressure (COP), total excursions and sway velocity was significantly higher for amputees and older adults when compared to young adults (p<0.05). Furthermore, power of sway signal was substantially lower for both amputees and older adults. When compared to that of older adults, postural steadiness of amputees was more affected by the eyes closed condition, whereas older adults’ was more affected when sensory and proprioceptive information was perturbed by standing on foam. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that fall risk is greater in amputees than in young adults without amputation. Additionally, amputees may rely more heavily on visual information than proprioceptive information for balance, in contrast to older and young adults without amputation. Layman's Abstract Falls can be detrimental to overall health and quality of life for lower extremity amputees. We evaluated postural sway and concluded that amputees have an increased fall risk and may rely more heavily on visual information for balance than do individuals without amputation. Article PDF Link:https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/33804/26600 How To Cite: Bateni H. Postural sway in lower extremity amputees and older adults may suggest increased fall risk in amputees. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2020;Volume 3, Issue 2, No.4. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v3i2.33804 Corresponding Author: Hamid Bateni, PhD Physical Therapy Program, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA.E-mail: [email protected]: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9083-1817

Download Full-text

Walking with Visual Restrictions in Healthy Elderly and Young Adults

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980800001549 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 295-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sean Gallagher ◽

Yves Lajoie ◽

Michel Guay

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Visual Information ◽

Older Persons ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Elderly Population ◽

The Elderly ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Healthy Elderly

ABSTRACTVisual requirements for a simple walking task were evaluated for young and elderly persons to determine if, with normal aging, elderly subjects require more visual information. Ten young adults and 10 elderly people were asked to complete a simple walking task within predetermined pathway boundaries under two conditions of visual restriction. In the reactive condition, subjects automatically received a 200 ms flash of visual information at the halfway point of the walkway. For the predictive condition, subjects did not receive any visual information during the walking trial, but were equipped with an emergency button that would provide 200 ms of visual information whenever they needed it. For both experimental conditions, subjects received additional flashes of visual information if they stepped out of the walkway boundaries. Results showed that older persons stepped out of bounds more often in the reactive condition and gave themselves more visual cues than the younger subjects in the predictive condition. The relative importance of vision during locomotion seems to be higher in the elderly population when compared to young adults.

Download Full-text