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Age-associated changes in obstacle negotiation strategies: Does size and timing matter?
1Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel.
Gait & Posture
|November 3, 2017
Summary
Older adults exhibit different obstacle negotiation strategies, placing their feet closer to obstacles and having lower foot clearance. These age-related changes are influenced by obstacle height and anticipation time, impacting fall prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Falls are a significant risk for older adults, with tripping over obstacles being a common cause.
- Understanding age-related differences in obstacle negotiation is crucial for fall prevention.
- Previous research has not systematically evaluated how aging, obstacle height, and anticipation time affect these strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effects of aging, obstacle height, and anticipation time on obstacle negotiation strategies.
- To compare the obstacle crossing techniques of older and younger adults.
- To identify age-related changes in gait parameters during obstacle negotiation.
Main Methods:
- Twenty older adults (77.7±3.4 years) and twenty young adults (29.3±3.8 years) participated.
- Participants negotiated anticipated and unanticipated obstacles of 25mm and 75mm height.
- Kinect cameras recorded foot placement and clearance; linear-mix models analyzed the data.
Main Results:
- Older adults placed their leading foot closer to obstacles post-landing compared to young adults (p<0.001), an effect amplified by higher obstacles (group*height interaction, p=0.033).
- Older adults demonstrated lower foot clearance over obstacles (p=0.007), particularly with unanticipated obstacles (group*ART interaction, p=0.003).
- Foot placement and clearance correlated with motor, cognitive, and functional abilities.
Conclusions:
- Age-related differences in obstacle crossing strategies exist and are influenced by obstacle characteristics.
- Findings support incorporating variable obstacle height and response time training into functional exercise programs for older adults.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the roles of motor and cognitive abilities in these strategies.
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