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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
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Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings
Published on: July 26, 2022
Gait initiation in older adults with postural instability
Chris J Hass1, Dwight E Waddell, Steven L Wolf
1Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Box 118205, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA. cjhass@hhp.ufl.edu
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|April 15, 2008
Summary
Older adults transitioning to frailty showed better gait initiation than those with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease impairs postural adjustments, even with medication, impacting forward and lateral gait initiation.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Investigated postural instability during gait initiation in older adults.
- Focused on forward and lateral (90 degrees) gait initiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare center of pressure (COP) translation during gait initiation.
- Evaluate two groups: older adults transitioning to frailty and individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Main Methods:
- Assessed 28 older adults transitioning to frailty and 16 individuals with PD (medicated).
- Calculated and compared COP displacements, velocities, and smoothness during gait initiation trials.
Main Results:
- Both groups exhibited reduced COP movements compared to healthy individuals.
- Adults transitioning to frailty maximized propulsive forces and showed COP trajectories similar to healthy adults.
- Individuals with PD demonstrated counterproductive COP trajectories for efficient gait initiation.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with PD, even when medicated, display inefficient postural adjustments during gait initiation.
- PD-related postural adjustments are more vulnerable to disease-specific changes than to aging alone.
