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Protective arm movements are modulated with fall height.

James Borrelli1, Robert Creath2, Mark W Rogers1

  • 1University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Journal of Biomechanics
|January 4, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fall height influences protective arm reactions, altering elbow extension and neck velocity but not biceps and triceps co-activation. This suggests a neuromuscular strategy optimizing arm movements before impact.

Keywords:
FallsInjuryUpper extremity

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Movement Science
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Protective arm reactions are crucial for fall injury prevention.
  • Understanding the biomechanics of these reactions is vital for developing effective interventions.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated the impact of fall height on protective arm responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of fall height on the biomechanics of protective arm reactions.
  • To analyze kinematic and electromyographic responses during simulated falls.
  • To determine how different fall heights modulate neuromuscular control strategies.

Main Methods:

  • 14 young adults participated in a simulated fall experiment using an inverted pendulum system.
  • Protective arm reactions were evoked by unpredictable pendulum release at various lean angles (fall heights).
  • Measurements included vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), arm kinematics, and electromyography (EMG) of biceps and triceps.

Main Results:

  • The rapid arm orientation phase was modulated by fall height.
  • Co-activation of biceps and triceps before impact was minimally affected by fall height.
  • Increased lean angles led to higher vGRF, greater elbow extension at impact, and increased neck velocity.

Conclusions:

  • The neuromuscular control strategy appears to prioritize optimizing elbow extension parameters before muscle co-activation.
  • Fall height significantly influences the initial phase of protective arm reactions.
  • Further research is needed to understand the control of delayed protective arm responses.