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Related Experiment Videos

Age-related differences in laterally directed compensatory stepping behavior.

B E Maki1, M A Edmondstone, W E McIlroy

  • 1Centre for Studies in Aging, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. brian.maki@swchsc.on.ca

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
|May 20, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Older adults struggle with lateral balance recovery, taking more steps and using arms more often than younger adults. This impaired control may signal a higher risk for falls and hip fractures.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Biomechanics
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Lateral falls are a significant concern for older adults, increasing hip fracture risk.
  • Effective balance recovery relies on rapid stepping, a complex motor task.
  • Age-related differences in lateral stepping behavior are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related differences in stepping strategies for balance recovery from lateral perturbations.
  • To characterize the motor responses of young and older adults to unpredictable lateral balance loss.

Main Methods:

  • Healthy young (20-30 yrs) and older (65-73 yrs) adults participated.
  • A motion platform induced sudden, unpredictable lateral displacements during quiet stance and walking in place.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Video analysis quantified limb and arm movements during balance recovery.

    • Main Results:

    • Older adults were more prone to multiple steps and arm use for balance recovery, especially with crossover steps.
    • During walking in place, older adults also took more steps and used arm reactions more frequently.
    • Foot-limb collisions were significantly higher in older adults (55%) compared to young adults (8%) during walk-in-place trials.

    Conclusions:

    • Lateral stepping control presents challenges for healthy older adults, exceeding difficulties seen in forward/backward stepping.
    • Impaired lateral stepping may be an early predictor of fall risk and subsequent hip fractures.
    • Clinical strategies for fall prediction and prevention should consider lateral balance control deficits.