Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning

Background: Direction change while walking is a complex task of locomotor activity and is necessary during daily activities, but little is known about whether aging alters turn-related characteristics compared with straight walking. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aging...

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Auteurs principaux: I-Hsuan Chen, Yea-Ru Yang, Shih-Jung Cheng, Ray-Yau Wang
Format: Article
Langue:English
Publié: Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM) 2013-09-01
Collection:International Journal of Gerontology
Sujets:
Accès en ligne:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1873959813000045
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author I-Hsuan Chen
Yea-Ru Yang
Shih-Jung Cheng
Ray-Yau Wang
author_facet I-Hsuan Chen
Yea-Ru Yang
Shih-Jung Cheng
Ray-Yau Wang
author_sort I-Hsuan Chen
collection DOAJ
description Background: Direction change while walking is a complex task of locomotor activity and is necessary during daily activities, but little is known about whether aging alters turn-related characteristics compared with straight walking. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on the biomechanical characteristics and walking velocity during circular turning. Methods: The participants included 17 healthy older adults (65–80 years old) and 16 young adults. Walking velocity, the first and second peak knee flexion, ankle plantarflexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and electromyographic amplitudes of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medialis were measured during walking along a 5 m straight path and a 5 m circumference curved path with a radius of 0.8 m. Results: The two groups made comparable decreases in turning velocity as compared with straight walking, but older adults decreased the second peak knee flexion instead of the second peak ankle plantarflexion, and the knee remained flexed during the loading response. Older people also needed higher amplitudes of the tibialis anterior in the outer leg, and biceps femoris in the inner leg, to facilitate turning, which were not seen in young adults. Moreover, older adults did not decrease amplitudes of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris in the outer leg, and tibialis anterior in the inner leg, as noted in young adults. Conclusion: Aging does not exert further effects on turning velocity, but older adults use different biomechanical strategies to turn.
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spelling doaj.art-d13009c202ab49fc9bdecd1d6f5086be2022-12-22T03:11:13ZengTaiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM)International Journal of Gerontology1873-95982013-09-017316216610.1016/j.ijge.2013.01.003Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular TurningI-Hsuan Chen0Yea-Ru Yang1Shih-Jung Cheng2Ray-Yau Wang3Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Neurology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanBackground: Direction change while walking is a complex task of locomotor activity and is necessary during daily activities, but little is known about whether aging alters turn-related characteristics compared with straight walking. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on the biomechanical characteristics and walking velocity during circular turning. Methods: The participants included 17 healthy older adults (65–80 years old) and 16 young adults. Walking velocity, the first and second peak knee flexion, ankle plantarflexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and electromyographic amplitudes of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medialis were measured during walking along a 5 m straight path and a 5 m circumference curved path with a radius of 0.8 m. Results: The two groups made comparable decreases in turning velocity as compared with straight walking, but older adults decreased the second peak knee flexion instead of the second peak ankle plantarflexion, and the knee remained flexed during the loading response. Older people also needed higher amplitudes of the tibialis anterior in the outer leg, and biceps femoris in the inner leg, to facilitate turning, which were not seen in young adults. Moreover, older adults did not decrease amplitudes of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris in the outer leg, and tibialis anterior in the inner leg, as noted in young adults. Conclusion: Aging does not exert further effects on turning velocity, but older adults use different biomechanical strategies to turn.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1873959813000045agingelectromyographykinematicsturning
spellingShingle I-Hsuan Chen
Yea-Ru Yang
Shih-Jung Cheng
Ray-Yau Wang
Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
International Journal of Gerontology
aging
electromyography
kinematics
turning
title Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
title_full Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
title_fullStr Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
title_full_unstemmed Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
title_short Differences in Kinematic and Electromyographic Characteristics Between Young and Older Adults During Circular Turning
title_sort differences in kinematic and electromyographic characteristics between young and older adults during circular turning
topic aging
electromyography
kinematics
turning
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1873959813000045
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AT yearuyang differencesinkinematicandelectromyographiccharacteristicsbetweenyoungandolderadultsduringcircularturning
AT shihjungcheng differencesinkinematicandelectromyographiccharacteristicsbetweenyoungandolderadultsduringcircularturning
AT rayyauwang differencesinkinematicandelectromyographiccharacteristicsbetweenyoungandolderadultsduringcircularturning