Journal Article10.1093/PTJ/70.6.340
Biomechanical Walking Pattern Changes in the Fit and Healthy Elderly
1K
TL;DR: A separate gait database is needed in order to pinpoint falling disorders of the elderly, as significant differences attributable to age alone are apparent.
read more
Abstract: A descriptive study of the biomechanical variables of the walking patterns of the fit and healthy elderly compared with those of young adults revealed several significant differences. The walking patterns of 15 elderly subjects, selected for their active life style and screened for any gait- or balance-related pathological conditions, were analyzed. Kinematic and kinetic data for a minimum of 10 repeat walking trials were collected using a video digitizing system and a force platform. Basic kinematic analyses and an inverse dynamics model yielded data based on the following variables: temporal and cadence measures, heal and toe trajectories, joint kinematics, joint moments of force, and joint mechanical power generation and absorption. Significant differences between these elderly subjects and a database of young adults revealed the following: the same cadence but a shorter step length, an increased double-support stance period, decreased push-off power, a more flat-footed landing, and a reduction in their “index of dynamic balance.” All of these differences, except reduction in index of dynamic balance, indicate adaptation by the elderly toward a safer, more stable gait pattern. The reduction in index of dynamic balance suggests deterioration in the efficiency of the balance control system during gait. Because of these significant differences attributable to age alone, it is apparent that a separate gait database is needed in order to pinpoint falling disorders of the elderly.
read more
Chat with Paper
AI Agents for this Paper
Find similar papers on Google Scholar, PubMed and Arxiv
Write a critical review of this paper
Analyze citations of this paper to find unaddressed research gaps
Citations
Baseline skin information from the foot dorsum is used to control lower limb kinematics during level walking
TL;DR: Interestingly, it appears that these healthy young adults were able to compensate for the reduced skin information while preserving locomotor efficiency via a maintained ground clearance (MTC), and an interaction between skin and visual inputs was demonstrated.
21
The Functional Utilization of Propulsive Capacity During Human Walking.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a maximum ramped impeding force protocol and maximum speed walking to study the factors that govern push-off intensity and the available capacity thereof during walking in young subjects.
21
Safety margins in older adults increase with improved control of a dynamic object.
TL;DR: The results suggest that safety margins are related to the ability to control dynamics, and may explain why in tasks with simple dynamics older adults use adequate safety margins, but in more complex tasks, safety margins may be inadequate.
Contribution of center of mass–center of pressure angle tangent to the required coefficient of friction in the sagittal plane during straight walking
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the contribution of the tangent of the center of pressure (COP) angle to the required coefficient of friction (RCOF) during straight walking.
21
Benchmark data for elderly, vascular trans-tibial amputees after rehabilitation
Wendy A. Hubbard,G. K. McElroy +1 more
TL;DR: Twenty elderly vascular trans-tibial amputees rehabilitated at The Queen Elizabeth Centre, Ballarat, Australia and at least six months post-amputation were measured in respect of kinetic and kinematic parameters, and relationships between gait speed, consistency, and function were demonstrated.
References
Falls in the elderly related to postural imbalance.
TL;DR: In both sexes sway was significantly increases in people who fell because of loss of balance and in women whose falls were due to giddiness, drop attacks, turning the head, and rising from bed or a chair, suggesting that there is a physiological decline in postural control with advancing age and also a decline due to disease of the central nervous system.
732
Energy generation and absorption at the ankle and knee during fast, natural, and slow cadences.
TL;DR: In 15 normal adults an advanced biomechanical analysis of walking patterns at slow, natural, and fast cadences showed that the ankle had two mechanical power phases: a negative work phase during weight acceptance, followed by a dominant burst of positive work at push-off and early swing.
631
Overall principle of lower limb support during stance phase of gait
TL;DR: Examination of individual subject and patient joint moment histories revealed considerable variability at the knee and hip in spite of consistent Ms patterns, which revealed a significant basic pattern.
541
Studies of Gait and Mobility in the Elderly
F. J. Imms,O. G. Edholm +1 more
TL;DR: The gait and mobility of 71 subjects aged 60--99 years were studied by completion of a questionnaire, by measurement of time and distance factors using a metal walkway, and by examination of the subject's performance on a simple "obstacle' course.
347