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Does the effect of walking balance perturbations generalize across contexts?
Andrew D Shelton1, Ellora M McTaggart1, Jessica L Allen2
1Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Human Movement Science
|November 29, 2023
Summary
Different balance perturbations do not universally predict locomotor instability. Assessing falls risk requires multiple perturbation types to capture diverse real-world scenarios and create accurate patient profiles.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics and Motor Control
- Gerontology
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Balance perturbations are crucial for studying locomotor instability.
- Current perturbation methods may not generalize to broader falls risk assessment.
- Understanding generalization across perturbation contexts is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the effects of balance perturbations on instability generalize across different contexts.
- To determine the applicability of various perturbation types for falls risk evaluation.
Main Methods:
- 29 younger and 28 older adults participated in four trials: unperturbed walking and three perturbation contexts (mediolateral optical flow, treadmill slips, lateral waist-pulls).
- Instability was quantified by the change in margin of stability compared to unperturbed walking.
- Correlations between perturbation effects were analyzed within and between age groups.
Main Results:
- All perturbations significantly altered mediolateral and anteroposterior margin of stability in both young and older adults.
- In older adults, lateral waist-pull effects correlated with optical flow and treadmill slip effects.
- Younger adults showed correlations between waist-pulls and optical flow, and treadmill slips and margin of stability changes, which were absent in older adults.
Conclusions:
- No single balance perturbation paradigm can universally predict locomotor instability.
- Accurate patient instability profiles necessitate a combination of perturbation paradigms.
- Future research should employ diverse perturbations to mimic varied environmental fall contexts.
