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Forward-backward postural protective stepping responses in young and elderly adults
Pei-Yun Lee1, Kris Gadareh2, Adolfo M Bronstein3
1Neuro-Otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Human Movement Science
|February 27, 2014
Summary
Protective steps are faster and longer than voluntary steps. Elderly individuals exhibit slower and shorter backward protective steps, suggesting potential postural control issues.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Fall avoidance is critical, yet research often overlooks direction-specific protective stepping.
- Forward and backward stepping exhibit distinct biomechanical and visual characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare forward and backward protective stepping responses.
- To investigate age-related differences in protective stepping between young and elderly adults.
Main Methods:
- Elicited protective stepping using a moving platform (forward/backward).
- Recorded voluntary steps as a control.
- Measured reaction time (RT), step length, and angular velocity in 13 young and 13 elderly participants.
Main Results:
- Protective steps were quicker, longer, and faster than voluntary steps.
- Backward protective steps had shorter RTs than forward steps; voluntary steps did not.
- Elderly participants showed slower steps and shorter backward than forward protective steps.
Conclusions:
- Protective stepping is an automatic, robust response, unlike volitional stepping.
- Quicker backward protective steps may be an evolved response to falling risks.
- Impaired backward protective steps in the elderly may indicate early postural control deficits, possibly linked to fronto-basal ganglia dysfunction.
