Age-related changes in shock absorption capacity of the human spinal column

Brzuszkiewicz-Kuźmicka, Grażyna; Szczegielniak, Jan; Bączkowicz, Dawid

doi:10.2147/cia.s156298

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Even though foot (VT) accelerations were lower in OF, suggesting less impact, the OF were not able to attenuate the higher accelerations in the trunk. This reduction in impact absorption may be caused by age-related neuromuscular changes, such as a reduced muscle strength of the triceps surae and quadriceps femoris ( 47 ), degraded stiffness and elastic modulus of the tendons ( 48 ), muscle co-contraction, and degraded absorption of the intervertebral disc ( 49 ). Considering that two-thirds of the weight of the human body is in the upper body, such higher trunk accelerations may be destabilizing, which may cause falls ( 50 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females

Zhang

Zhou

Pijnappels

et al. 2021

Front. Rehabilit. Sci.

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Our aim was to evaluate differences in gait acceleration intensity, variability, and stability of feet and trunk between older females (OF) and young females (YF) using inertial sensors. Twenty OF (mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 YF (mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk straight for 100 meters at their preferred speed, while wearing inertial sensors on their heels and lower back. We calculated spatiotemporal measures, foot and trunk acceleration characteristics, their variability, and trunk stability using the local divergence exponent (LDE). Two-way ANOVA (such as the factors foot and age), Student's t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare statistical differences of measures between groups. Cohen's d effects were calculated for each variable. Foot maximum vertical (VT) acceleration and amplitude, trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, and their variability were significantly smaller in OF than in YF. In contrast, trunk mediolateral (ML) acceleration amplitude, maximum VT acceleration, amplitude, and their variability were significantly larger in OF than in YF. Moreover, OF showed lower stability (i.e., higher LDE values) in ML acceleration, ML, and VT angular velocity of the trunk. Even though we measured healthy OF, these participants showed lower VT foot accelerations with higher VT trunk acceleration, lower trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, less gait stability, and more variability of the trunk, and hence, were more likely to fall. These findings suggest that instrumented gait measurements may help for early detection of changes or impairments in gait performance, even before this can be observed by clinical eye or gait speed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females

Zhang

Zhou

Pijnappels

et al. 2021

Front. Rehabilit. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Even though foot (vertical) accelerations were lower in OF, suggesting less impact, the OF were not able to attenuate the higher accelerations in the trunk. This reduction in impact absorption may be caused by age-related neuromuscular changes, such a reduced muscle strength of the triceps surae and quadriceps femoris (Reeves et al, 2006), degraded stiffness and elastic modulus of the tendons (McCrum et al, 2018), muscle co-contraction and degraded absorption of the intervertebral disc (Brzuszkiewicz-Kuźmicka et al, 2018). Considering that two-thirds of the weight of the human body is in the upper body, such higher trunk accelerations may be destabilizing, which may cause falls (Woollacott and Tang, 1997).…”

Section: Mean Gait Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in gait stability and acceleration characteristics between healthy young and older females

Zhang

Zhou

Pijnappels

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Gait stability has been shown to be affected by age-related mobility problems, but exercise habits may reduce decline in gait stability. Our aim was to evaluate the variability and stability of feet and trunk between older healthy females and young females using inertial sensors. Method: 20 older females (OF; mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 young females (YF; mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk at their preferred speed, while kinematics were measured using inertial sensors on heels and lower back. Spatiotemporal parameters, acceleration characteristics and their variability, as well as trunk stability as assessed using the local divergence exponent (LDE), were calculated and compared between age groups with two-way ANOVA analyses. Results：Trunk-foot vertical acceleration attenuation, foot vertical acceleration maximum and amplitude, as well as their variability were significantly smaller in OF than in YF. In contrast, for trunk mediolateral acceleration amplitude, vertical acceleration maximum and amplitude, as well as their variability were significantly larger in OF than in YF. Moreover, OF showed lower stability (i.e. higher LDE values) in ML acceleration, ML and VT angular velocity on the trunk. Conclusion：These findings suggest that healthy older females had a lower maximum toe clearance so that were more likely to trip. Moreover, the acceleration of trunk was sensitive to the difference between healthy older and young females, both in variability and stability. Combined, although older adults had exercise habits, our metrics indicate that they were less stable, which may increase the risk of tripping and balance loss. Keywords: walking, aging, wearable system, motor control, balance

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“…The intervertebral disc is not a diarthrodial joint but an elastic block with a shock-absorbing capacity [ 4 ], load cushioning [ 5 ], weight dispersion [ 5 ], and a movable Instantaneous Center of Rotation (ICR) [ 6 ]. Elastomeric TDRs aimed to reproduce these features [ 7 , 8 ], but repetitive deformation has induced long-term degeneration with cracks and even extrusion [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%