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Updated: May 15, 2026
07:46
Gait Analysis of Age-dependent Motor Impairments in Mice with Neurodegeneration
Published on: June 18, 2018
Muscle function during gait is invariant to age when walking speed is controlled
Yoong Ping Lim1, Yi-Chung Lin, Marcus G Pandy
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. y.lim10@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Gait & Posture
|December 27, 2012
Summary
Older adults exhibit altered gait mechanics, with key hip and back muscles compensating to maintain balance. This study reveals age-related shifts in muscle function during walking, crucial for understanding mobility changes.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Musculoskeletal Physiology
Background:
- Aging significantly impacts gait, leading to slower walking and shorter strides.
- While gait kinematics and kinetics are studied, age-related muscle function changes remain less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare lower-limb muscle actions in accelerating the center of mass (COM) between healthy young and older adults during walking.
- To elucidate age-specific muscle contributions to gait support, progression, and balance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D gait analysis and subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling.
- Calculated lower-limb muscle forces and their contributions to COM accelerations at matched walking speeds.
Main Results:
- Pelvic tilt increased in older adults during stance.
- While overall muscle contributions were similar, older adults showed reduced gluteus medius support function.
- Increased gluteus maximus and contralateral erector spinae contributions to balance were observed in older adults during early stance.
Conclusions:
- Highlights age-related functional roles of leg muscles in gait.
- Emphasizes the critical role of hip and back muscles in maintaining mediolateral balance in older adults.
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