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Adults up to 80 years old maintain effective movement planning when facing complex body dynamics
Anouck Matthijs1,2, Anda de Witte1,2, Dante Mantini1,2
1Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Geroscience
|December 17, 2025
Summary
Healthy aging preserves feedforward motor control for movement initiation, but impairs feedback control needed for final movement accuracy. Shoulder stabilization during initial elbow movements remains intact across age groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging affects motor performance, particularly in multi-joint movements requiring coordinated control.
- Feedforward and feedback control mechanisms are crucial for movement execution.
- The impact of aging on these specific motor control strategies is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of healthy aging on feedforward and feedback motor control during a simple elbow movement task.
- To examine age-related changes in shoulder stabilization during elbow flexion and extension under varying speeds.
Main Methods:
- Healthy participants (young, old, and older-old) performed elbow flexion/extension movements.
- Electromyography (EMG) measured anticipatory muscle activity for shoulder stabilization.
- Movement accuracy and shoulder stabilization were assessed across different elbow velocities.
Main Results:
- Anticipatory shoulder muscle activity and timing were similar across all age groups, indicating intact feedforward control.
- Shoulder stabilization during movement initiation was preserved with age, even at higher velocities.
- Older adults showed reduced shoulder stabilization in the final movement phase, correlating with decreased movement accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Feedforward motor control for movement initiation is resilient to healthy aging.
- Feedback control mechanisms appear to decline with age, impacting movement precision.
- Age-related decline in feedback control may contribute to reduced accuracy in multi-joint movements.
Keywords:
AgingElectromyographyFeedback controlFeedforward controlIntersegmental dynamicsShoulder stabilizationMore Related Videos
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