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

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.

Learning motor control in the upright position: A mechanical engineering approach

Motor control problems that result from damage to the central nervous system can make it difficult to learn functional activities. Although several therapeutic approaches attempt to address such problems there is little evidence of their efficacy. Targeted Training is a new approach, based on a biomechanical analysis of the problem, which usually relies on specifically designed equipment. This paper describes the underlying theory, the development of functional specifications, the translation of these specifications into an engineering design and the clinical results of applying the equipment. The promotion of head and trunk control provides an example of the process.

The Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test: Development of a Revised Procedure for Use with Preschool Children

A pilot study was conducted to compare performances of 3-year-old children with 5- and 6-year-olds on the standardized Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test (SCPNT) and a revised version of this instrument. Standard test procedures were modified to correct for the variable of head and trunk control in 3-year-olds. The subjects were 16 3-year-olds and six 5- and 6-year-olds in metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio. Subjects were administered the standardized and revised SCPNT in counterbalanced order approximately 1 hour apart. Data were analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation The correlation coefficient for total scores on the two tests for 5- and 6-year-olds was .88. This coefficient was found to be significant (p< 05), providing evidence for validity of the revised SCPNT. The correlation coefficient for the 3-year-olds was .42, which was not found to be significant (p< 05). Results suggested that for 3-year-olds, different neural processes were being tapped by the two tests. Recommendations for further research are discussed.