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Reaching forward: effects of a preceding task and aging.
1Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|February 1, 2015
Summary
Performing a balance task before forward reaching impacts movement strategies. Older adults adopt a cautious approach during the up-and-reach task to ensure safety.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Forward reaching is crucial for daily activities.
- It is often performed during quiet standing or after standing up.
- Aging can affect motor control and balance during functional tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a preceding balance task on forward reaching performance.
- To examine how aging influences movement strategies during forward reaching.
- To compare forward reach (FR) with an up-and-reach (UR) task.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two young and 20 older adults participated.
- Participants performed forward reaching under two conditions: FR and UR.
- A motion analysis system tracked center of mass (COM) and joint kinematics.
Main Results:
- The UR task involved a more flexed posture, shorter reach distance, and greater ankle dorsiflexion compared to FR.
- Center of mass location did not differ between conditions.
- Older adults slowed COM motion during UR, unlike young adults.
Conclusions:
- A preceding balance task increases the demand of forward reaching, necessitating strategy modifications.
- Older adults exhibit a greater impact from increased task demand, suggesting a cautious strategy for safety.
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