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Adult age differences in familiarization to treadmill walking within virtual environments
Michael Schellenbach1, Martin Lövdén, Julius Verrel
1Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. schellenbach@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Gait & Posture
|December 25, 2009
Summary
Twenty minutes of treadmill walking in virtual environments (VE) helps adults adapt their gait. Familiarization allows treadmill walking to closely resemble overground walking, though some age-related differences persist.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Virtual Reality
Background:
- Treadmill walking in virtual environments (VE) is a common research tool.
- Understanding gait adaptation and age-related differences is crucial for research validity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess age-related differences in familiarization to treadmill walking in VE.
- To determine if familiarized treadmill walking resembles overground walking.
- To evaluate the sufficiency of a 20-minute familiarization period.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen younger and 17 older adults walked on an overground walkway.
- Participants then walked for 20 minutes on a treadmill integrated with a VE.
- A motion capture system analyzed spatio-temporal gait parameters.
Main Results:
- Initially, treadmill walking showed decreased step length and increased step width, cadence, and double support time compared to overground.
- Gait parameters approached overground values with familiarization, with minor deviations (<1%) after 15 minutes.
- Younger adults showed closer step width resemblance to overground walking than older adults after 20 minutes.
Conclusions:
- 20 minutes of familiarization is generally sufficient for stable treadmill walking patterns in VE, resembling overground walking.
- Some differences persist, particularly in older adults, highlighting the need for adequate familiarization.
- Sufficient familiarization is essential for valid comparisons of gait between younger and older adults in VE settings.
