Variability of step kinematics in young and older adults

Owings, Tammy M.; Grabiner, Mark D.

doi:10.1016/s0966-6362(03)00088-2

Cited by 236 publications

(186 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Aging is associated with decrements in both executive functions, also called executive control or cognitive control (Diamond 2013), and gait control as evaluated from the variability of gait patterns (Buzzi et al 2003;Owings and Grabiner 2004;Kang and Dingwell 2008). In older adults, interference caused by competing demands for attentional resources has been demonstrated when gait is performed simultaneously with a cognitive task (i.e., dual-task paradigm).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of aging on the relationship between cognitive demand and step variability during dual-task walking

Decker

Cignetti

Hunt

et al. 2016

AGE

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A U-shaped relationship between cognitive demand and gait control may exist in dual-task situations, reflecting opposing effects of external focus of attention and attentional resource competition. The purpose of the study was twofold: to examine whether gait control, as evaluated from step-to-step variability, is related to cognitive task difficulty in a U-shaped manner and to determine whether age modifies this relationship. Young and older adults walked on a treadmill without attentional requirement and while performing a dichotic listening task under three attention conditions: nonforced (NF), forced-right (FR), and forced-left (FL). The conditions increased in their attentional demand and requirement for inhibitory control. Gait control was evaluated by the variability of step parameters related to balance control (step width) and rhythmic stepping pattern (step length and step time). A Ushaped relationship was found for step width variability in both young and older adults and for step time variability in older adults only. Cognitive performance during dual tasking was maintained in both young and older adults. The U-shaped relationship, which presumably results from a trade-off between an external focus of attention and competition for attentional resources, implies that higher-level cognitive processes are involved in walking in young and older adults. Specifically, while these processes are initially involved only in the control of (lateral) balance during gait, they become necessary for the control of (fore-aft) rhythmic stepping pattern in older adults, suggesting that attentional resources turn out to be needed in all facets of walking with aging. Finally, despite the cognitive resources required by walking, both young and older adults spontaneously adopted a Bposture second^strategy, prioritizing the cognitive task over the gait task.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of aging on the relationship between cognitive demand and step variability during dual-task walking

Decker

Cignetti

Hunt

et al. 2016

AGE

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“…9,[12][13][14] This has been associated with a less stable gait pattern. 15,16 Obese people also showed a less stable pattern for a sit-to-stand task. [17][18][19] Clearly, balance control does not only relate to upright standing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of obesity on accurate and rapid arm movement performed from a standing posture

Berrigan

Simoneau

Tremblay³

et al. 2006

Int J Obes

105

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Introduction: Obesity yields a decreased postural stability. The potentially negative impact of obesity on the control of upper limb movements, however, has not been documented. This study sought to examine if obesity imposes an additional balance control constraint limiting the speed and accuracy with which an upper limb goal-directed movement performed from an upright standing position can be executed. Method: Eight healthy lean subjects (body mass index (BMI) between 20.9 and 25.0 kg/m 2 ) and nine healthy obese subjects (BMI between 30.5 and 48.6 kg/m 2 ) pointed to a target located in front of them from an upright standing posture. The task was to aim at the target as fast and as precisely as possible after an auditory signal. The difficulty of the task was varied by using different target sizes (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 cm width). Hand movement time (MT) and velocity profiles were measured to quantify the aiming. Centre of pressure and segmental kinematics were analysed to document postural stability. Results: When aiming, the forward centre of pressure (CP) displacement was greater for the obese group than for the normal BMI group (4.6 and 1.9 cm, respectively). For the obese group, a decrease in the target size was associated with an increase in backward CP displacement and CP peak speed whereas for the normal BMI group backward CP displacements and CP peak speed were about the same across all target sizes. Obese participants aimed at the target moving their whole body forward whereas the normal BMI subjects predominantly made an elbow extension and shoulder flexion. For both groups, MT increased with a decreasing target size. Compare to the normal BMI group, this effect was exacerbated for the obese group. For the two smallest targets, movements were on average 115 and 145 ms slower for the obese than for the normal BMI group suggesting that obesity added a balance constraint and limited the speed with which an accurate movement could be done. Summary: Obesity, because of its effects on the control of balance, also imposes constraints on goal-directed movements. From a clinical perspective, obese individuals might be less efficient and more at risk of injuries than normal weight individuals in a large number of work tasks and daily activities requiring upper limb movements performed from an upright standing position.

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“…Variability within spatial gait parameters, such as step width, step length, and stride length, has equated an increase in variability to an increased risk of falls in elderly individuals [19][20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These test batteries have been validated specifically for the elderly population which has been identified as a population predisposed to impaired dynamic walking balance and falls [8][9][10] hence, limiting these tests' capacity towards accurately depicting dynamic walking balance in a healthy, younger population. Measures of gait Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation variability (center of pressure (COP) [11][12][13], temporal [14][15][16][17][18], and spatial [19][20][21][22] measures) and balance systems, such as the Biodex Balance System (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY) have commonly been used in the laboratory setting in an attempt to quantify and qualify dynamic walking balance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concurrent validation of the tandem walk test as a measure of dynamic walking balance in a healthy population

Robertson¹,

Gregory²

2017

Phys Ther Rehabil

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Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible concurrent validity of the tandem walk test as a measure of dynamic walking balance. Methods: Forty-nine healthy participants, age range 20-75 years (mean age 40.1 ± 17.1 years), performed the ten step tandem walk test and two clinical tests of dynamic balance using the Biodex Balance System (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY) dynamic limits of stability protocol and measures of gait variability assessed through gait center of pressure, spatial, and temporal parameters derived from an instrumented treadmill (h/p/cosmos sports & medical gmbh, Nussdorf-Traunstein, Germany; Zebris FDM-T, Isny im Allgau, Germany). Results: A moderate-high correlation was demonstrated between the ten step tandem walk test eyes open and measures of gait variability, step width (r=0.64 p<0.05) and step time variability ( r=0.67 p<0.05), age (r=0.69 p<0.05), and Biodex Balance System dynamic limits of stability (r=0.81 p<0.05). A moderate relationship was found between the ten step tandem walk test eyes open and measures of gait center of pressure variability (r=0.52 p<0.05). Correlation coefficient values between the ten step tandem walk test eyes open and Biodex Balance System dynamic limits of stability, gait temporal, center of pressure, and spatial parameters demonstrated increased strength when adjusted for age. Conclusion: The ten step tandem walk test demonstrated a moderate to high relationship with clinical tests of dynamic balance: Biodex Balance System dynamic limits of stability and gait center of pressure, spatial, and time parameters in a healthy population demonstrating concurrent validity as an objective measure of dynamic walking balance in a healthy population between the ages of 20 and 75 years.

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Variability of step kinematics in young and older adults

Cited by 236 publications

References 9 publications

Effects of aging on the relationship between cognitive demand and step variability during dual-task walking

Effects of aging on the relationship between cognitive demand and step variability during dual-task walking

Influence of obesity on accurate and rapid arm movement performed from a standing posture

Concurrent validation of the tandem walk test as a measure of dynamic walking balance in a healthy population

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