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A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
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Published on: March 19, 2020

Balance control in stepping down expected and unexpected level changes.

Jaap H van Dieën1, Marcel Spanjaard, Reinier Konemann

  • 1Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL-1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.vandieen@fbw.vu.nl

Journal of Biomechanics
|July 24, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Unexpected stepping down causes falls by preventing momentum control. A rapid trailing limb step can prevent falls, but this may fail in the elderly or with larger height differences.

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Published on: August 30, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human locomotion
  • Gait analysis

Background:

  • Stepping down elevations is a common activity.
  • Unexpected level changes during gait can lead to falls.
  • Falls are a significant risk, especially for the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the biomechanics of expected versus unexpected stepping down.
  • To investigate the effects of unexpected height differences on gait control.
  • To understand the mechanisms contributing to falls during stepping down.

Main Methods:

  • Ten male subjects performed stepping down tasks with expected and unexpected height changes.
  • Kinematic and ground reaction force data were collected.
  • Unexpected trials involved a 10-cm height difference encountered earlier than anticipated.

Main Results:

  • Stepping down significantly increased forward horizontal and angular momenta.
  • Expected stepping down involved increased step length for momentum control.
  • Unexpected stepping down limited the ability to adjust leg movement and control momentum, necessitating a rapid trailing limb step to prevent falls.

Conclusions:

  • Unexpected stepping down impairs the ability to control momentum due to insufficient time for adaptation.
  • A rapid trailing limb step is a compensatory strategy to prevent falls.
  • Factors like age and larger height differences can increase fall risk by limiting compensatory capacity.