Stepping Responses in Young and Older Adults Following a Perturbation to the Support Surface During Gait

ABSTRACT

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence perturbation direction has on postural responses during overground gait, and whether these responses are age related. Differences in stepping patterns following perturbations of the support surface were examined in the frontal and sagittal planes during forward walking. Eleven young and 10 older adults completed Mini BESTest, hip strength tests, and 45 perturbed walking trials, triggered on heel contact. Lateral perturbations were more challenging to postural stability for both groups. Step length measures showed young adults recovered in the step proceeding the perturbation, while older adults needed additional steps to regain balance. Young adults arrested center of mass movement by producing larger step widths than older adults following the support surface perturbation.

Keywords:

• gait
• instability
• older adults
• platform perturbations
• stepping responses

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Stephen Brown for his contribution of equipment as well as feedback and suggestions for data analyses. In addition to the participants from the Village by the Arboretum (Guelph, Ontario), we would like to also thank the students who volunteered during collections, namely Alicia Kokoszka, Lukas Linde, Derek Zwambag, Shawn Beaudette, Eve Lampert, and Shelby Michaelson.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (to Emily I. McIntosh) and the College of Biological Sciences Faculty Research Grant (Lori Ann Vallis). Infrastructure supported by grants awarded to John L. Zettel and Lori Ann Vallis from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and Ontario Innovation Trust.