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Increased Variability in Lower Limb Muscle Activation Is Observed with Increasing Walking Speed in Fall-Risk Older
1Department of Physical Therapy, Suwon Women's University, Suwon 18333, Republic of Korea.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Older adults at risk of falls show increased muscle activity variability, not just lower muscle activation. Reducing this variability may help prevent falls in this population.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Neurology
Background:
- Falls are a significant concern for older adults, impacting mobility and independence.
- Muscle activation patterns and their variability during gait are crucial for maintaining stability.
- Identifying factors contributing to fall risk in older adults is essential for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in lower limb muscle activation and variability during walking at various speeds in older adults based on fall risk.
- To examine how age and fall risk influence muscle activation and its variability in key lower limb muscles.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 301 participants categorized by fall risk (fall-risk vs. non-fall-risk).
- Measurement of muscle activation and coefficients of variation (CV) for rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles.
- Gait analysis conducted at preferred, slow (20% slower), and fast (20% and 40% faster) walking speeds.
Main Results:
- Fall-risk older adults exhibited significantly lower medial gastrocnemius (GCM) activity and higher CVs for RF, BF, TA, and GCM at preferred walking speed.
- With increasing gait speed, fall-risk older adults demonstrated significantly elevated CVs for RF, BF, and GCM.
- Muscle activity variability, rather than muscle activation levels, was found to increase with walking speed in older adults at risk of falls.
Conclusions:
- Increased muscle activity variability, particularly in lower limb muscles, is a key characteristic differentiating older adults at risk of falls.
- The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing muscle activity variability during gait may be crucial for fall prevention strategies.
- This study provides novel insights into the neuromuscular control strategies employed by older adults with higher fall risk during locomotion.
