Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
15:00
The Impact of Motor Task Conditions on Goal-Directed Arm Reaching Kinematics and Trunk Compensation in Chronic Stroke Survivors
Published on: May 2, 2021
4.1K
Old adults preserve motor flexibility during rapid reaching.
Christian Greve1,2, Tibor Hortobágyi3, Raoul M Bongers3
1Center for Human Movement Science, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, HPC CB41, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. c.greve@umcg.nl.
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|March 16, 2017
Summary
Healthy older adults maintain motor flexibility, similar to younger adults, when adapting to physical and dexterity challenges during reaching tasks. This suggests preserved movement capabilities in aging, contrary to some prevailing views.
Area of Science:
- Motor control and biomechanics
- Human aging and motor performance
- Neuroscience of movement
Background:
- Motor flexibility is crucial for daily activities under varying constraints.
- Aging may compromise inter-joint coordination and adaptability due to nervous system changes.
- Understanding age-related motor flexibility is key to assessing functional decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare motor flexibility in healthy young and old adults during a rapid reaching task.
- To investigate adaptability to physical (resistance) and dexterity (target size) constraints.
- To determine if age impacts the utilization of motor flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Utilized uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analysis to quantify motor flexibility.
- Compared healthy old adults (n=14, 75.4±5.2 years) with young adults (n=15, 24.3±2 years).
- Manipulated task demands by altering external resistance and target size during a reaching task.
Main Results:
- Both young and old adults exhibited similar motor flexibility (V Ratio) and adaptability to increased physical and dexterity demands.
- Age did not significantly impact motor flexibility (p=0.092).
- End-effector kinematics were affected by age, but did not correlate with motor flexibility.
Conclusions:
- Healthy older adults preserve motor flexibility during a reaching task, challenging assumptions of general age-related decline in movement capabilities.
- Findings suggest that motor flexibility is maintained even with age.
- Future research should explore if experimental setups mask age-related differences in movement exploration.
