Effects of age and locomotor demand on foot mechanics during walking

Krupenevich, Rebecca L.; Clark, William H.; Ray, Samuel F.; Takahashi, Kota; Kashefsky, Howard; Franz, Jason R.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110499

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, we observed here that the age-related difference in sacral activation timing was greater in uphill than in downhill walking. Similarly, it has been observed that the reduced ankle moment in older adults observed during level walking (Monaco et al, 2009;Hortobágyi et al, 2016;Gueugnon et al, 2019) was even more pronounced during uphill walking (Waanders et al, 2020;Krupenevich et al, 2021), indirectly supporting the idea that the change in activity of sacral motor pools is reflected in changes in muscular power production (Dewolf et al, 2019a).…”

Section: Unanticipated Step-to-step Transition Strategymentioning

confidence: 71%

Neuromuscular Age-Related Adjustment of Gait When Moving Upwards and Downwards

Dewolf

Sylos-Labini

Cappellini

et al. 2021

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Locomotor movements are accommodated to various surface conditions by means of specific locomotor adjustments. This study examined underlying age-related differences in neuromuscular control during level walking and on a positive or negative slope, and during stepping upstairs and downstairs. Ten elderly and eight young adults walked on a treadmill at two different speeds and at three different inclinations (0°, +6°, and −6°). They were also asked to ascend and descend stairs at self-selected speeds. Full body kinematics and surface electromyography of 12 lower-limb muscles were recorded. We compared the intersegmental coordination, muscle activity, and corresponding modifications of spinal motoneuronal output in young and older adults. Despite great similarity between the neuromuscular control of young and older adults, our findings highlight subtle age-related differences in all conditions, potentially reflecting systematic age-related adjustments of the neuromuscular control of locomotion across various support surfaces. The main distinctive feature of walking in older adults is a significantly wider and earlier activation of muscles innervated by the sacral segments. These changes in neuromuscular control are reflected in a reduction or lack of propulsion observed at the end of stance in older adults at different slopes, with the result of a delay in the timing of redirection of the centre-of-mass velocity and of an unanticipated step-to-step transition strategy.

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Section: Unanticipated Step-to-step Transition Strategymentioning

confidence: 71%

Neuromuscular Age-Related Adjustment of Gait When Moving Upwards and Downwards

Dewolf

Sylos-Labini

Cappellini

et al. 2021

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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“…During level-ground walking at a constant speed, young adults typically perform more negative work (i.e., energy absorption) than positive work (i.e., energy return or generation), thereby losing mechanical energy each step. Comparatively, feet in older adults lose even more energy [6,7], due to both a greater negative work and a reduced positive work. Moreover, this energy loss in older adults is exacerbated when walking fast or against impeding forces that challenge the propulsion [6].…”

Section: Current Understanding Of the Mechanics And Energetics Of Old...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparatively, feet in older adults lose even more energy [6,7], due to both a greater negative work and a reduced positive work. Moreover, this energy loss in older adults is exacerbated when walking fast or against impeding forces that challenge the propulsion [6]. Cumulatively, these findings may highlight the inability of older adults to appropriately modulate the foot's mechanical energy output based on the task demands.…”

Section: Current Understanding Of the Mechanics And Energetics Of Old...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While many studies involving older adults have examined ankle kinetics, kinematics and some aspects of foot mechanics (e.g., kinematics, plantar pressure) [5], until recently, there were relatively few studies investigating mechanical energetics in asymptomatic feet in older adults [6,7]. During level-ground walking at a constant speed, young adults typically perform more negative work (i.e., energy absorption) than positive work (i.e., energy return or generation), thereby losing mechanical energy each step.…”

Section: Current Understanding Of the Mechanics And Energetics Of Old...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While these studies serve as an important launching point to understand the mechanical behavior of foot structures, the mechanisms of energy loss within the feet of older adults are currently unclear-for example, whether the energy loss is due in part to abnormal muscle activation or strength and/or to alterations in structural properties (e.g., passive tissues or bone morphology). Furthermore, our current understanding of foot function in older adults is limited to mostly level-ground walking [6,7], and much is unknown about how older adults adapt their foot mechanics when tasked with activities that require net energy dissipation (e.g., walking downhill, stair descent, gait termination) or net energy generation (e.g., walking uphill, stair ascent, gait initiation).…”

Section: Current Understanding Of the Mechanics And Energetics Of Old...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanics and Energetics of Human Feet: A Contemporary Perspective for Understanding Mobility Impairments in Older Adults

et al. 2022

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Much of our current understanding of age-related declines in mobility has been aided by decades of investigations on the role of muscle–tendon units spanning major lower extremity joints (e.g., hip, knee and ankle) for powering locomotion. Yet, mechanical contributions from foot structures are often neglected. This is despite the emerging evidence of their critical importance in youthful locomotion. With the rapid growth in the field of human foot biomechanics over the last decade, our theoretical knowledge of young asymptomatic feet has transformed, from long-held views of the foot as a stiff lever and a shock absorber to that of a versatile system that can modulate mechanical power and energy output to accommodate various locomotor task demands. In this perspective review, we predict that the next set of impactful discoveries related to locomotion in older adults will emerge by integrating the novel tools and approaches that are currently transforming the field of human foot biomechanics. By illuminating the functions of the feet in older adults, we envision that future investigations will refine our mechanistic understanding of mobility deficits affecting our aging population, which may ultimately inspire targeted interventions to rejuvenate the mechanics and energetics of locomotion.

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