Article

Fatigue directly affects key features of the sensorimotor system which
disorganizes voluntary control of movement accuracy.
Local dynamic stability of
walking is considered a sensitive measure for neuromuscular performance. To gain
greater insight in the role of fatigue in motor behaviour in older and young
adults during walking, the current experiment analyses gait patterns of healthy
young but maximal fatigued individuals and gait patterns in submaximal fatigued
older adults. Ten young and 18 older subjects performed a bicycle incremental
exercise test on a cycle ergometer. In young subjects, the incremental test was
performed until total physical exhaustion. In older subjects, the test was
performed until submaximal fatigue. Prior to and after the test, the participants
walked for 2.5min on a treadmill. Based on linear acceleration data of the trunk,
local dynamic stability was assessed. Student's t-test was used to check if
differences are statistically significant. In young individuals, we found a
significant decrease in the finite-time maximal Lyapunov exponents between
unfatigued walking and maximal fatigued walking. In older participants,
significant increases in the finite-time maximal Lyapunov between unfatigued
walking and submaximal fatigued walking were observed. The results indicate that
(1) young and sporty subjects become more stable after having passed a maximum
cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer while (2) older individuals
walk less locally stable in a submaximal fatigued condition. Older cohorts might
show a higher fall risk when they are physically fatigued.
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Langue : ANGLAIS