Article

The purpose of this study was to examine sagittal plane momentum
control during walking with the use of center of mass (COM) velocity and
acceleration. METHODS: COM control in the antero-posterior direction during
walking of healthy young and elderly adults, and elderly fallers (n=15/group) was
examined. Using a single-link-plus-foot inverted pendulum model, boundaries for
the region of stability were determined based on the COM position at toe-off and
its instantaneous velocity or the peak acceleration prior to toe-off (ROSv or
ROSa, respectively). RESULTS: Although no significant difference in forward COM
velocity was detected between healthy young and elderly subjects, the peak
forward COM acceleration differed significantly, suggesting age-related
differences in momentum control during walking. Elderly fallers demonstrated
significantly slower forward COM velocities and accelerations and placed their
COM significantly more anterior than healthy young and elderly subjects at
toe-off, which resulted in their COM position-velocity combination located within
the ROSv. Similar results were obtained in the ROSa, where elderly fallers
demonstrated a larger stability margin than healthy young and elderly subjects.
INTERPRETATIONS: Significantly slower peak COM accelerations could be indicative
of a poor momentum control ability, which was more pronounced in elderly fallers.
Examining COM acceleration, in addition to its velocity, would provide a greater
understanding of person's momentum control, which would allow us to better reveal
underlying mechanisms of gait imbalance or falls.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS