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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

Published on: March 19, 2020

Muscle synergy differences between voluntary and reactive backward stepping.

Shuaijie Wang¹, Gonzalo Varas-Diaz¹, Tanvi Bhatt²

¹Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 W Taylor St (M/C 898), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Scientific Reports

|July 30, 2021

Summary

Aging has minimal impact on muscle synergies used for voluntary and reactive stepping. Both young and older adults utilize fewer muscle synergies during reactive stepping compared to voluntary stepping.

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Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Neuroscience
Gerontology

Background:

Reactive stepping is crucial for maintaining balance and preventing falls.
Both voluntary and reactive step training can enhance stepping efficacy.
The impact of aging on neuromuscular control during these stepping types is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of aging on neuromuscular control during voluntary and reactive stepping.
To compare muscle synergy usage between young and older adults during different stepping tasks.

Main Methods:

Electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from young and older adults during voluntary and reactive stepping.
Muscle synergy analysis was employed to extract and compare muscle synergies.
A slip-like treadmill perturbation was used to elicit reactive stepping.

Main Results:

Fewer muscle synergies were utilized during reactive stepping compared to voluntary stepping in both age groups.
Minimal differences were found in the structure of muscle synergies between young and older adults.
Low similarity was observed between muscle synergies for voluntary and reactive stepping.

Conclusions:

Aging has a limited effect on the structure of muscle synergies for stepping.
Muscle synergy patterns differ significantly between voluntary and reactive stepping.
This research clarifies the neuromuscular basis of stepping and aging's influence on balance control.