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Magnitude, symmetry and attenuation of upper body accelerations during walking in women: The role of age, fall history and walking surface

Soleimanifar, M ; Sharif University of Technology | 2020

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.05.016
  3. Publisher: Elsevier Ireland Ltd , 2020
  4. Abstract:
  5. Objectives: The present experiment examined the role of age and fall history in upper body accelerations when walking on an even and on an uneven surface. Study design: An observational cross-sectional study. Main outcome measures: The magnitude (root mean square [RMS]), symmetry (harmonic ratio) and attenuation (attenuation coefficient) of upper body accelerations were quantified as primary outcomes; gait spatiotemporal parameters were measured as secondary outcomes. Methods: Twenty young adults (mean ± SD age: 29.00 ± 4.51 yrs), 20 older non-fallers (66.60 ± 5.43 yrs) and 20 older fallers (68.55 ± 4.86 yrs) walked on an even and on an uneven surface, while wearing four accelerometers attached to the forehead, pelvis, right and left shanks. Results: Older fallers exhibited increased RMS acceleration in the mediolateral direction at the pelvis level compared with young adults when walking on the even surface (0.18 ± 0.04 vs. 0.14 ± 0.02, respectively), whereas walking on an uneven surface was associated with reduced magnitude of acceleration in older fallers (0.19 ± 0.04) compared with non-fallers (0.23 ± 0.04) and young adults (0.22 ± 0.03). Among other changes, walking on the uneven surface diminished pelvis-to-head attenuation in the mediolateral direction in older fallers (38.07 ± 14.51) compared with non-fallers (50.96 ± 11.03) and young adults (62.62 ± 8.21; all ps<0.05). Conclusions: Reduced mediolateral accelerations in older fallers when walking on the uneven surface can be interpreted as a compensatory mechanism to preserve stability through increased body stiffness. Reduced postural flexibility in the frontal plane compromises the central role of the trunk in minimizing the impact of gait-related oscillations to the head, as evidenced by reduced mediolateral attenuation in older fallers. © 2020 Elsevier B.V
  6. Keywords:
  7. Elderly ; Falls ; Gait ; Sensors ; Walking surface ; Accelerometry ; Attenuation ; Body movement ; Controlled study ; Cross-sectional study ; Falling ; Forehead ; Human ; Major clinical study ; Observational study ; Oscillation ; Outcome assessment ; Pelvis ; Rigidity ; Root mean square ; Spatiotemporal analysis ; Statistical analysis ; Study design ; Surface property ; Walking speed ; Body equilibrium ; Physiology ; Trunk ; Walking ; Acceleration ; Accidental Falls ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance ; Torso ; Walking ; Young Adult
  8. Source: Maturitas ; Volume 139 , 2020 , Pages 49-56
  9. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512220302838#!