Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study
Abstract Introduction The inability to recover from unexpected lateral loss of balance may be particularly relevant to the problem of falling. Aim We aimed to explore whether different kinematic patterns and strategies occur in the first recovery step in single-step trials in which a single step was...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03080-w |
| _version_ | 1818190047009046528 |
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| author | Shani Batcir Guy Shani Amir Shapiro Itshak Melzer |
| author_facet | Shani Batcir Guy Shani Amir Shapiro Itshak Melzer |
| author_sort | Shani Batcir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction The inability to recover from unexpected lateral loss of balance may be particularly relevant to the problem of falling. Aim We aimed to explore whether different kinematic patterns and strategies occur in the first recovery step in single-step trials in which a single step was required to recover from a fall, and in multiple-step trials in which more than one step was required to recover from a fall. In addition, in the multiple-step trials, we examined kinematic patterns of balance recovery where extra steps were needed to recover balance. Methods Eighty-four older adults (79.3 ± 5.2 years) were exposed to unannounced right/left perturbations in standing that were gradually increased to trigger a recovery stepping response. We performed a kinematic analysis of the first recovery step of all single-step and multiple-step trials for each participant and of total balance recovery in the multiple-step trial. Results Kinematic patterns and strategies of the first recovery step in the single-step trials were significantly dependent on the perturbation magnitude. It took a small, yet significantly longer time to initiate a recovery step and a significantly longer time to complete the recovery step as the magnitude increased. However, the first recovery step in the multiple-step trials showed no significant differences between different perturbation magnitudes; while, in total balance recovery of these trials, we observed a small, yet significant difference as the magnitude increased. Conclusions At relatively low perturbation magnitudes, i.e., single-step trials, older adults selected different first stepping strategies and kinematics as perturbation magnitudes increased, suggesting that this population activated pre-planned programs based on the perturbation magnitude. However, in the first recovery step of the multiple-step trials, i.e., high perturbation magnitudes, similar kinematic movement patterns were used at different magnitudes, suggesting a more rigid, automatic behavior, while the extra-steps were scaled to the perturbation magnitude. This suggest that older adults activate pre-planned programs based on the magnitude of the perturbation, even before the first step is completed.. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:52:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9766bdae346e4c5b9adfc5db0cabbe4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:52:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9766bdae346e4c5b9adfc5db0cabbe4a2022-12-22T00:45:27ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-05-0122111010.1186/s12877-022-03080-wCharacteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based studyShani Batcir0Guy Shani1Amir Shapiro2Itshak Melzer3Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevDepartment of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Ben-Gurion UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevAbstract Introduction The inability to recover from unexpected lateral loss of balance may be particularly relevant to the problem of falling. Aim We aimed to explore whether different kinematic patterns and strategies occur in the first recovery step in single-step trials in which a single step was required to recover from a fall, and in multiple-step trials in which more than one step was required to recover from a fall. In addition, in the multiple-step trials, we examined kinematic patterns of balance recovery where extra steps were needed to recover balance. Methods Eighty-four older adults (79.3 ± 5.2 years) were exposed to unannounced right/left perturbations in standing that were gradually increased to trigger a recovery stepping response. We performed a kinematic analysis of the first recovery step of all single-step and multiple-step trials for each participant and of total balance recovery in the multiple-step trial. Results Kinematic patterns and strategies of the first recovery step in the single-step trials were significantly dependent on the perturbation magnitude. It took a small, yet significantly longer time to initiate a recovery step and a significantly longer time to complete the recovery step as the magnitude increased. However, the first recovery step in the multiple-step trials showed no significant differences between different perturbation magnitudes; while, in total balance recovery of these trials, we observed a small, yet significant difference as the magnitude increased. Conclusions At relatively low perturbation magnitudes, i.e., single-step trials, older adults selected different first stepping strategies and kinematics as perturbation magnitudes increased, suggesting that this population activated pre-planned programs based on the perturbation magnitude. However, in the first recovery step of the multiple-step trials, i.e., high perturbation magnitudes, similar kinematic movement patterns were used at different magnitudes, suggesting a more rigid, automatic behavior, while the extra-steps were scaled to the perturbation magnitude. This suggest that older adults activate pre-planned programs based on the magnitude of the perturbation, even before the first step is completed..https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03080-wFallsOlder adultsUnexpected balance perturbationStep recovery responseTotal balance recoveryFirst step is completed |
| spellingShingle | Shani Batcir Guy Shani Amir Shapiro Itshak Melzer Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study BMC Geriatrics Falls Older adults Unexpected balance perturbation Step recovery response Total balance recovery First step is completed |
| title | Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study |
| title_full | Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study |
| title_short | Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people – a cross-sectional laboratory-based study |
| title_sort | characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people a cross sectional laboratory based study |
| topic | Falls Older adults Unexpected balance perturbation Step recovery response Total balance recovery First step is completed |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03080-w |
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