How healthy older adults regulate lateral foot placement while walking in laterally destabilizing environments.

Journal of Biomechanics
Meghan E KazanskiJonathan B Dingwell

Abstract

Gait variability is generally associated with falls, but specific connections remain disputed. To reduce falls, we must first understand how older adults maintain lateral balance while walking, particularly when their stability is challenged. We recently developed computational models of lateral stepping, based on Goal Equivalent Manifolds, that separate effects of step-to-step regulation from variability. These show walking humans seek to strongly maintain step width, but also lateral position on their path. Here, 17 healthy older (ages 60+) and 17 healthy young (ages 18-31) adults walked in a virtual environment with no perturbations and with laterally destabilizing perturbations of either the visual field or treadmill platform. For step-to-step time series of step widths and lateral positions, we computed variability, statistical persistence and how much participants directly corrected deviations at each step. All participants exhibited significantly increased variability, decreased persistence and tighter direct control when perturbed. Simulations from our stepping regulation models indicate people responded to the increased variability imposed by these perturbations by either maintaining or tightening control of both step ...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 22, 2020·Frontiers in Sports and Active Living·Hendrik ReimannJohn J Jeka
Mar 6, 2021·Journal of Biomechanics·Anna C RenderJonathan B Dingwell

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