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Published on: September 18, 2020
Aging and movement errors when lifting and lowering light loads
Evangelos A Christou1, Roger M Enoka
1Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. eachristou@ufl.edu
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|October 15, 2010
Summary
Older adults show reduced accuracy in finger movements due to increased movement variability and altered muscle activation patterns. These findings highlight age-related changes in motor control.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age-related decline in motor function affects daily activities.
- Understanding age-related differences in movement accuracy is crucial for interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how movement variability and muscle activation influence index finger movement accuracy in young versus older adults.
- To compare motor control strategies between age groups during targeted movements.
Main Methods:
- Participants (young and older adults) performed index finger movements to match target positions while lifting/lowering a light load.
- Movement error, variability (acceleration, end position), and electromyography (EMG) of first dorsal interosseus (FDI) and second palmar interosseus (SPI) muscles were measured.
- Visual feedback was provided after each trial.
Main Results:
- Older adults demonstrated greater spatial and temporal errors and increased movement variability compared to young adults.
- Differences in muscle activation (FDI, SPI) were observed between age groups during lifting and lowering tasks.
- Older adults showed reduced trial-to-trial variability in specific muscle activations during movement.
Conclusions:
- Decreased accuracy in older adults is attributed to greater movement variability and altered antagonistic muscle activity.
- Age-related changes in motor control impact the precision of fine motor tasks.
- Findings suggest specific neuromuscular adaptations contributing to motor performance decline in aging.
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