Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling.
INTRODUCTION:The regulation of one's step length by placing one's foot at a specific position within gait, otherwise known as 'locomotor pointing', is well understood in walking and running gait. The current study was the first to broaden this understanding to a larger cohort and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6053146?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818142637076512768 |
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| author | Steven van Andel Michael H Cole Gert-Jan Pepping |
| author_facet | Steven van Andel Michael H Cole Gert-Jan Pepping |
| author_sort | Steven van Andel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION:The regulation of one's step length by placing one's foot at a specific position within gait, otherwise known as 'locomotor pointing', is well understood in walking and running gait. The current study was the first to broaden this understanding to a larger cohort and to describe the influence of age on the regulation of locomotor pointing when walking up to and stepping onto a curb-like platform. METHODS:Younger (n = 17, mean age: 25.35 years, range: 19-33) and older adults (n = 105, mean age: 71.49 years, range: 61-86) participated in a walking experiment, requiring them to approach and step onto a curb-like platform. Linear mixed effects modeling was used to study the main outcome variables: onset of regulation, the regulation strategy and the strength of perceptual-motor coupling. RESULTS:Results showed that with older age, participants showed less variability in foot placement during their approach and seemed to prefer to shorten their steps. Furthermore, the strength of the perceptual-motor relationship was found to be related to age; regulation of step length of both younger and older participants was based on a participant's current foot position. The strength of this relationship increased as participants got closer to the curb and was stronger with increasing age. Furthermore, younger adults on average lengthened their steps as they got closer to the curb, whereas older adults showed significantly less lengthening compared to their younger counterparts. No age-related differences were found in terms of onset of regulation. DISCUSSION:The results suggest that the strength of the perceptual-motor relationship in gait is related to age. It is argued that this age-related increase in the strength of perceptual-motor coupling is required to cope with increasing demands linked to the age-related declines of action capabilities. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of increased falls risks and deficits in perceptual-motor functioning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:18:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac8cc1003e8f429397def3f94da3ec87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:18:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac8cc1003e8f429397def3f94da3ec872022-12-22T01:09:14ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01137e020024410.1371/journal.pone.0200244Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling.Steven van AndelMichael H ColeGert-Jan PeppingINTRODUCTION:The regulation of one's step length by placing one's foot at a specific position within gait, otherwise known as 'locomotor pointing', is well understood in walking and running gait. The current study was the first to broaden this understanding to a larger cohort and to describe the influence of age on the regulation of locomotor pointing when walking up to and stepping onto a curb-like platform. METHODS:Younger (n = 17, mean age: 25.35 years, range: 19-33) and older adults (n = 105, mean age: 71.49 years, range: 61-86) participated in a walking experiment, requiring them to approach and step onto a curb-like platform. Linear mixed effects modeling was used to study the main outcome variables: onset of regulation, the regulation strategy and the strength of perceptual-motor coupling. RESULTS:Results showed that with older age, participants showed less variability in foot placement during their approach and seemed to prefer to shorten their steps. Furthermore, the strength of the perceptual-motor relationship was found to be related to age; regulation of step length of both younger and older participants was based on a participant's current foot position. The strength of this relationship increased as participants got closer to the curb and was stronger with increasing age. Furthermore, younger adults on average lengthened their steps as they got closer to the curb, whereas older adults showed significantly less lengthening compared to their younger counterparts. No age-related differences were found in terms of onset of regulation. DISCUSSION:The results suggest that the strength of the perceptual-motor relationship in gait is related to age. It is argued that this age-related increase in the strength of perceptual-motor coupling is required to cope with increasing demands linked to the age-related declines of action capabilities. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of increased falls risks and deficits in perceptual-motor functioning.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6053146?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Steven van Andel Michael H Cole Gert-Jan Pepping Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. PLoS ONE |
| title | Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. |
| title_full | Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. |
| title_fullStr | Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. |
| title_short | Regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan: Investigating age-related influences on perceptual-motor coupling. |
| title_sort | regulation of locomotor pointing across the lifespan investigating age related influences on perceptual motor coupling |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6053146?pdf=render |
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