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Melo-Alonso M, Murillo-Garcia A, Leon-Llamas JL, Villafaina S, Gomez-Alvaro MC, Morcillo-Parras FA, Gusi N. Classification and Definitions of Compensatory Protective Step Strategies in Older Adults: A Scoping Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:635. [PMID: 38276141 PMCID: PMC10816706 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk for an unexpected fall can be due to increasing age, health conditions, and loss of cognitive, sensory, or musculoskeletal functions. Falls have personal and economic consequences in many countries. Different disturbances can occur during gait, such as tripping, slipping, or other unexpected circumstances that can generate a loss of balance. The strategies used to recover balance depend on many factors, but selecting a correct response strategy influences the success of balance recovery. OBJECTIVES (1) To collect and clarify the definitions of compensatory protective step strategies to recover balance in older adults; (2) to identify the most used methods to induce loss of balance; and (3) to identify the most used spatiotemporal variables in analyzing these actions. METHODS The present review has followed the PRISMA guideline extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) and the phases proposed by Askery and O'Malley. The search was conducted in three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. RESULTS A total of 525 articles were identified, and 53 studies were included. Forty-five articles were quasi-experimental studies, six articles were randomized controlled trials, and two studies had an observational design. In total, 12 compensatory protective step strategies have been identified. CONCLUSIONS There are 12 compensatory protective step strategies: lowering and elevating strategy, short- and long-step strategy, backward and forward stepping for slip, single step, multiple steps, lateral sidesteps or loaded leg sidestep unloaded leg sidestep, crossover step (behind and front), and medial sidestep. To standardize the terminology applied in future studies, we recommend collecting these strategies under the term of compensatory protective step strategies. The most used methods to induce loss of balance are the tether-release, trip, waist-pull, and slip methods. The variables analyzed by articles are the number of steps, the acceleration phase and deceleration phase, COM displacement, the step initiation or step duration, stance phase time, swing phase time and double-stance duration, stride length, step length, speed step, speed gait and the type of step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Melo-Alonso
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Alvaro Murillo-Garcia
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Juan Luis Leon-Llamas
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Santos Villafaina
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Mari Carmen Gomez-Alvaro
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Felipe Alejandro Morcillo-Parras
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
| | - Narcis Gusi
- Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain; (M.M.-A.); (A.M.-G.); (J.L.L.-L.); (S.V.); (M.C.G.-A.); (F.A.M.-P.)
- International Institute for Innovation in Aging, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
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Rieger MM, Papegaaij S, Steenbrink F, van Dieën JH, Pijnappels M. Effects of Perturbation-Based Treadmill Training on Balance Performance, Daily Life Gait, and Falls in Older Adults: REACT Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther 2024; 104:pzad136. [PMID: 37805994 PMCID: PMC10802992 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzad136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perturbation-based treadmill training on gait quality in daily life, a predictor of fall risk that was used as the primary outcome. An additional aim was to evaluate the effects on secondary outcomes, including balance, gait performance, self-efficacy, daily life physical activity, and falls. METHODS Seventy community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 74.73 [SD = 5.69] years; 46 women) at risk of falling were randomized and received 4 weeks of dual-task treadmill training, either with or without treadmill perturbations. Balance, gait performance, self-efficacy, and daily life trunk accelerometry at baseline, after intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up were assessed and compared within group over time and between groups for each time point, and their change rates between groups over time were also assessed. RESULTS Both groups improved in their balance, gait performance, and self-efficacy; the experimental group showed a significantly larger decrease in concern of falling and an increase in physical performance than the controls. These training effects did not translate into significant improvements in daily life gait quality or physical activity. However, the number of daily life falls and the percentage of fallers decreased significantly more in the experimental group. CONCLUSION A 4-week perturbation-based dual-task treadmill training program can improve self-efficacy, balance, and gait performance in a controlled setting and reduce daily life falls, although not through changes in quantity or quality of daily life gait. IMPACT Perturbation-based treadmill training is a safe and efficient way to train older adults' balance recovery and gait performance, increase self-efficacy, and prevent falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Rieger
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Motek Medical B.V., Houten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Jaap H van Dieën
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Pijnappels
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Margalit N, Kurz I, Wacht O, Mansfield A, Melzer I. A survey of Israeli physical therapists regarding reactive balance training. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:656. [PMID: 37833653 PMCID: PMC10571354 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04356-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 'Reactive balance training' (RBT) was developed to improve balance reactions to unexpected losses of balance. Although this training method is effective, its practical usage in the field of physical-therapy in Israel and world-wide is still unclear. AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the extent of RBT use in physical-therapy clinics in Israel, to identify the significant barriers to/facilitators for implementing RBT in clinical practice among physical therapists, and to determine which aspects of RBT most interest physical therapists in Israel. METHODS Physical therapists in Israel completed a survey using a questionnaire regarding their knowledge and use of RBT in their clinical practices. We compared the specific use of RBT among users; non-users; and open-to-use physical therapists. The odds ratios of the facilitators and barriers were calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS Four-hundred and two physical therapists responded to a yes/no question regarding their use of RBT. Three-quarters (75.4%) of physical therapists reported using RBT in their practices. The most prevalent barrier cited was insufficient space for setting up equipment and most prevalent facilitator was having a colleague who uses RBT. Most of the respondents wanted to learn more about RBT, and most of the non-users wanted to expand their knowledge and mastery of RBT principles. CONCLUSIONS There are misconceptions and insufficient knowledge about RBT among physical therapists in Israel, indicating that they may falsely believe that RBT requires large and expensive equipment, suggesting they categorize RBT as external perturbation training only. Reliable information may help to improve general knowledge regarding RBT, and to facilitate the more widespread implementation of RBT as an effective fall-prevention intervention method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Margalit
- Schwartz Movement Analysis & Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ilan Kurz
- Schwartz Movement Analysis & Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Oren Wacht
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Avril Mansfield
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Itshak Melzer
- Schwartz Movement Analysis & Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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Wang S, Nguyen TK, Bhatt T. Trip-Related Fall Risk Prediction Based on Gait Pattern in Healthy Older Adults: A Machine-Learning Approach. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:5536. [PMID: 37420703 DOI: 10.3390/s23125536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Trip perturbations are proposed to be a leading cause of falls in older adults. To prevent trip-falls, trip-related fall risk should be assessed and subsequent task-specific interventions improving recovery skills from forward balance loss should be provided to the individuals at risk of trip-fall. Therefore, this study aimed to develop trip-related fall risk prediction models from one's regular gait pattern using machine-learning approaches. A total of 298 older adults (≥60 years) who experienced a novel obstacle-induced trip perturbation in the laboratory were included in this study. Their trip outcomes were classified into three classes: no-falls (n = 192), falls with lowering strategy (L-fall, n = 84), and falls with elevating strategy (E-fall, n = 22). A total of 40 gait characteristics, which could potentially affect trip outcomes, were calculated in the regular walking trial before the trip trial. The top 50% of features (n = 20) were selected to train the prediction models using a relief-based feature selection algorithm, and an ensemble classification model was selected and trained with different numbers of features (1-20). A ten-times five-fold stratified method was utilized for cross-validation. Our results suggested that the trained models with different feature numbers showed an overall accuracy between 67% and 89% at the default cutoff and between 70% and 94% at the optimal cutoff. The prediction accuracy roughly increased along with the number of features. Among all the models, the one with 17 features could be considered the best model with the highest AUC of 0.96, and the model with 8 features could be considered the optimal model, which had a comparable AUC of 0.93 and fewer features. This study revealed that gait characteristics in regular walking could accurately predict the trip-related fall risk for healthy older adults, and the developed models could be a helpful assessment tool to identify the individuals at risk of trip-falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaijie Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Tuan Khang Nguyen
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Gerards M, Marcellis R, Senden R, Poeze M, de Bie R, Meijer K, Lenssen A. The effect of perturbation-based balance training on balance control and fear of falling in older adults: a single-blind randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:305. [PMID: 37198543 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03988-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is an emerging intervention shown to improve balance recovery responses and reduce falls in everyday life in older adults. However, perturbation interventions were heterogeneous in nature and need improvement. This study aims to investigate the effects of a PBT protocol that was designed to address previously identified challenges of PBT, in addition to usual care, on balance control and fear of falling in older adults at increased risk of falling. METHODS Community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 65 years) who visited the hospital outpatient clinic due to a fall incident were included. Participants received PBT in addition to usual care (referral to a physiotherapist) versus usual care alone. PBT consisted of three 30-minute sessions in three weeks. Unilateral treadmill belt accelerations and decelerations and platform perturbations (shifts and tilts) were applied during standing and walking on the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN, Motek Medical BV). This dual-belt treadmill embedded in a motion platform with 6 degrees of freedom is surrounded by a 180° screen on which virtual reality environments are projected. Duration and contents of the training were standardised, while training progression was individualised. Fear of falling (FES-I) and balance control (Mini-BESTest) were assessed at baseline and one week post-intervention. Primary analysis compared changes in outcome measures between groups using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS Eighty-two participants were included (PBT group n = 39), with a median age of 73 years (IQR 8 years). Median Mini-BESTest scores did not clinically relevantly improve and were not significantly different between groups post-intervention (p = 0.87). FES-I scores did not change in either group. CONCLUSIONS Participation in a PBT program including multiple perturbation types and directions did not lead to different effects than usual care on clinical measures of balance control or fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults with a recent history of falls. More research is needed to explore how to modulate PBT training dose, and which clinical outcomes are most suitable to measure training effects on balance control. TRIAL REGISTRATION Nederlands Trial Register NL7680. Registered 17-04-2019 - retrospectively registered. https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7680 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Gerards
- Department of Physiotherapy, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Care and Public Health Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Rik Marcellis
- Department of Physiotherapy, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Senden
- Department of Physiotherapy, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Poeze
- Department of Surgery, division of Trauma Surgery, MUMC+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rob de Bie
- Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kenneth Meijer
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Antoine Lenssen
- Department of Physiotherapy, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Wang S, Bhatt T. Kinematic Measures for Recovery Strategy Identification following an Obstacle-Induced Trip in Gait. J Mot Behav 2023; 55:193-201. [PMID: 36603841 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2022.2146043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the kinematic measures determining balance outcome following an over-ground trip perturbation. 117 healthy older adults who experienced laboratory-induced trips were divided into loss of balance (LOB) and no LOB groups. The LOB group contained 27 fallers and 34 non-fallers, and the no LOB group contained 21 participants using cross-over strategy and 35 participants using obstacle-hit strategy. A 2-class hierarchical regression model for balance loss showed that margin of stabilty could determine the balance outcomes (LOB or not) with an overall accuracy of 92.7%. The 4-class model for recovery strategies showed that the combination of margin of stability, trunk angle, and COM velocity could determine 81.9% of strategies. Our findings would enhance intervention development for populations at risk of trip-induced falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaijie Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Devasahayam AJ, Farwell K, Lim B, Morton A, Fleming N, Jagroop D, Aryan R, Saumur TM, Mansfield A. The Effect of Reactive Balance Training on Falls in Daily Life: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther 2022; 103:pzac154. [PMID: 37651698 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzac154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Reactive balance training (RBT) is an emerging approach to reducing falls risk in people with balance impairments. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of RBT on falls in daily life among individuals at increased risk of falls and to document associated adverse events. METHODS Databases searched were Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to March 2022), Embase Classic and Embase (1947 to March 2022), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2014 to March 2022), and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro; searched on 22 March 2022). Randomized controlled trials of RBT were included. The literature search was limited to the English language. Records were screened by 2 investigators separately. Outcome measures were number of participants who reported falls after training, number of falls reported after training, and the nature, frequency, and severity of adverse events. Authors of included studies were contacted to obtain additional information. RESULTS Twenty-nine trials were included, of which 17 reported falls and 21 monitored adverse events. Participants assigned to RBT groups were less likely to fall compared with control groups (fall risk ratio = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.63-0.92; I2 = 32%) and reported fewer falls than control groups (rate ratio = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.45-0.83; I2 = 81%). Prevalence of adverse events was higher in RBT (29%) compared with control groups (20%). CONCLUSION RBT reduced the likelihood of falls in daily life for older adults and people with balance impairments. More adverse events were reported in RBT than control groups. IMPACT Balance training that evokes balance reactions can reduce falls among people at increased risk of falls. Older adults and individuals with balance problems were less likely to fall in daily life after participating in RBT compared with traditional balance training. LAY SUMMARY If you are an older adult and/or have balance problems, your physical therapist may prescribe reactive balance training rather than traditional balance training in order to reduce your likelihood of falling in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyle Farwell
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bohyung Lim
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abigail Morton
- Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natalie Fleming
- École de Readaptation, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- École de Kinésiologie et de Loisir, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - David Jagroop
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raabeae Aryan
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyler Mitchell Saumur
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Avril Mansfield
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ferreira RN, Ribeiro NF, Figueiredo J, Santos CP. Provoking Artificial Slips and Trips towards Perturbation-Based Balance Training: A Narrative Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:9254. [PMID: 36501958 PMCID: PMC9740792 DOI: 10.3390/s22239254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Humans' balance recovery responses to gait perturbations are negatively impacted with ageing. Slip and trip events, the main causes preceding falls during walking, are likely to produce severe injuries in older adults. While traditional exercise-based interventions produce inconsistent results in reducing patients' fall rates, perturbation-based balance training (PBT) emerges as a promising task-specific solution towards fall prevention. PBT improves patients' reactive stability and fall-resisting skills through the delivery of unexpected balance perturbations. The adopted perturbation conditions play an important role towards PBT's effectiveness and the acquisition of meaningful sensor data for studying human biomechanical reactions to loss of balance (LOB) events. Hence, this narrative review aims to survey the different methods employed in the scientific literature to provoke artificial slips and trips in healthy adults during treadmill and overground walking. For each type of perturbation, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to identify trends regarding the most adopted perturbation methods, gait phase perturbed, gait speed, perturbed leg, and sensor systems used for data collection. The reliable application of artificial perturbations to mimic real-life LOB events may reduce the gap between laboratory and real-life falls and potentially lead to fall-rate reduction among the elderly community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael N. Ferreira
- Center for MicroElectroMechanical Systems, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Ferrete Ribeiro
- Center for MicroElectroMechanical Systems, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- MIT Portugal Program, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Figueiredo
- Center for MicroElectroMechanical Systems, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristina P. Santos
- Center for MicroElectroMechanical Systems, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
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Lee Y, Alexander NB, Madigan ML. A proposed methodology for trip recovery training without a specialized treadmill. Front Sports Act Living 2022; 4:1003813. [PMID: 36479551 PMCID: PMC9719936 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.1003813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries among adults aged 65 years and older. Perturbation-based balance training is a novel exercise-based fall prevention intervention that has shown promise in reducing falls. Trip recovery training is a form of perturbation-based balance training that targets trip-induced falls. Trip recovery training typically requires the use of a specialized treadmill, the cost of which may present a barrier for use in some settings. The goal of this paper is to present a methodology for trip recovery training that does not require a specialized treadmill. A trial is planned in the near future to evaluate its effectiveness. If effective, non-treadmill trip recovery training could provide a lower cost method of perturbation-based balance training, and facilitate greater implementation outside of the research environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjae Lee
- Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (0118), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Neil B. Alexander
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael L. Madigan
- Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (0118), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics (0298), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Michael L. Madigan
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Nørgaard JE, Andersen S, Ryg J, Stevenson AJT, Andreasen J, Danielsen MB, Oliveira ADSC, Jørgensen MG. Effects of treadmill slip and trip perturbation-based balance training on falls in community-dwelling older adults (STABILITY): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e052492. [PMID: 35131823 PMCID: PMC8823198 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Falls among older adults are most frequently caused by slips and trips and can have devastating consequences. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) have recently shown promising fall preventive effects after even small training dosages. However, the fall preventive effects of PBT delivered on a treadmill are still unknown. Therefore, this parallel-group randomised controlled trial aims to quantify the effects of a four-session treadmill-PBT training intervention on falls compared with treadmill walking among community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or more. METHODS AND ANALYSIS 140 community-dwelling older adults will be recruited and randomised into either the treadmill-PBT or the treadmill walking group. Each group will undergo three initial training sessions within a week and an additional 'booster' session after 26 weeks. Participants in the treadmill-PBT group will receive 40 slip and/or trip perturbations induced by accurately timed treadmill belt accelerations at each training session. The primary outcome of interest is daily life fall rates collected using fall calendars for a follow-up period of 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes include physical, cognitive and social-psychological fall-related risk factors and will be collected at the pre-training and post-training test and the 26-week and 52-week follow-up tests. All outcomes will be analysed using the intention-to-treat approach by an external statistician. A Poisson's regressions with bootstrapping, to account for overdispersion, will be used to compare group differences in fall rates. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol has been approved by the North Denmark Region Committee on Health Research Ethics (N-20200089). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04733222.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Eg Nørgaard
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stig Andersen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jesper Ryg
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Jane Andreasen
- Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, North Denmark Region, Denmark
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11
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Li J, Huang HJ. Small directional treadmill perturbations induce differential gait stability adaptation. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:38-55. [PMID: 34851745 PMCID: PMC8721900 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00091.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introducing unexpected perturbations to challenge gait stability is an effective
approach to investigate balance control strategies. Little is known about the
extent to which people can respond to small perturbations during walking. This
study aimed to determine how subjects adapted gait stability to multidirectional
perturbations with small magnitudes applied on a stride-by-stride basis. Ten
healthy young subjects walked on a treadmill that either briefly decelerated
belt speed (“stick”), accelerated belt speed
(“slip”), or shifted the platform medial-laterally at right leg
mid-stance. We quantified gait stability adaptation in both anterior-posterior
and medial-lateral directions using margin of stability and its components, base
of support, and extrapolated center of mass. Gait stability was disrupted upon
initially experiencing the small perturbations as margin of stability decreased
in the stick, slip, and medial shift perturbations and increased in the lateral
shift perturbation. Gait stability metrics were generally disrupted more for
perturbations in the coincident direction. Subjects employed both feedback and
feedforward strategies in response to the small perturbations, but mostly used
feedback strategies during adaptation. Subjects primarily used base of support
(foot placement) control in the lateral shift perturbation and extrapolated
center of mass control in the slip and medial shift perturbations. These
findings provide new knowledge about the extent of gait stability adaptation to
small magnitude perturbations applied on a stride-by-stride basis and reveal
potential new approaches for balance training interventions to target foot
placement and center of mass control. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Little is known about if and how humans can
adapt to small magnitude perturbations experienced on a stride-by-stride basis
during walking. Here, we show that even small perturbations disrupted gait
stability and that subjects could still adapt their reactive balance control.
Depending on the perturbation direction, subjects might prefer adjusting their
foot placement over their center of mass and vice versa. These findings could
help potentially tune balance training to target specific aspects of
balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
| | - Helen J Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.,Disability, Aging, and Technology (DAT) Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.,Bionic Materials, Implants, and Interfaces (Biionix) Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
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12
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Debelle H, Maganaris CN, O'Brien TD. Biomechanical Mechanisms of Improved Balance Recovery to Repeated Backward Slips Simulated by Treadmill Belt Accelerations in Young and Older Adults. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:708929. [PMID: 34622205 PMCID: PMC8490723 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.708929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Exposure to repeated gait perturbations improves the balance of older adults (OAs) and decreases their risks of falling, but little is known about the underpinning mechanical adjustments. We aimed to quantify the changing temporo-spatial and kinetic characteristics of balance recovery following repeated backward slips to better understand the mechanical adjustments responsible for improved balance. Methods: We exposed 17 young adults (YAs) (25.2 ± 3.7 years) and 17 OAs (62.4 ± 6.6 years) to 10 backward slips simulated on an instrumented treadmill by unilateral backward belt accelerations. We measured the balance of the participants (margin of stability: MoS), balance recovery (nsteps: number of steps necessary to return to a steady gait for at least three consecutive steps), temporo-spatial (step length), and kinetics [ground reaction force (GRF) angle, lower limb joint moments] for 15 steps following each slip. The results were compared with baseline. Results: Participants in both groups improved their MoS and nsteps with repeated exposure to the slips, but no significant effect of age was detected. During the perturbed step, the GRF vector was directed more posteriorly during mid-stance and more anteriorly during push-off than baseline, which resulted in a longer step. These adjustments were maintained from the first (Slip01) to the last (Slip10) slip, and by Slip10 were correlated with better balance (MoS) on the second recovery step. During the first recovery step following Slip01, participants developed lower plantarflexor and larger knee extensor moments whilst taking a shorter step, these adjustments were correlated with poorer balance and were not maintained with repeated slips. Joint moments and step length of the first recovery step returned to normal levels by Slip10. Conclusion: Young adults and OAs improved their balance with repeated slips. The adjustments that were positively correlated with balance (changes in step length, GRF angle) were maintained whilst those that were not (changes in joint moments) were discarded. All the responses observed in Slip10 were observed in Slip01. The observed balance improvements were achieved by refining the initial strategy rather than by developing a new one. The underlying mechanics were correlated with step length of the first recovery steps, which was associated with balance and should be monitored in fall prevention interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Debelle
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Constantinos N Maganaris
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas D O'Brien
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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13
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Hu D, Wang S, Li B, Liu H, He J. Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Changes in Encoding and Decoding of Bipedal Walking by Motor Cortical Ensembles. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091193. [PMID: 34573213 PMCID: PMC8469283 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that motor recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) is task-specific. However, most consequential conclusions about locomotor functional recovery from SCI have been derived from quadrupedal locomotion paradigms. In this study, two monkeys were trained to perform a bipedal walking task, mimicking human walking, before and after T8 spinal cord hemisection. Importantly, there is no pharmacological therapy with nerve growth factor for monkeys after SCI; thus, in this study, the changes that occurred in the brain were spontaneous. The impairment of locomotion on the ipsilateral side was more severe than that on the contralateral side. We used information theory to analyze single-cell activity from the left primary motor cortex (M1), and results show that neuronal populations in the unilateral primary motor cortex gradually conveyed more information about the bilateral hindlimb muscle activities during the training of bipedal walking after SCI. We further demonstrated that, after SCI, progressively expanded information from the neuronal population reconstructed more accurate control of muscle activity. These results suggest that, after SCI, the unilateral primary motor cortex could gradually regain control of bilateral coordination and motor recovery and in turn enhance the performance of brain–machine interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingyin Hu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Shirong Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Bo Li
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Honghao Liu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiping He
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
- Center for Neural Interface Design, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 86287, USA
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14
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Song PYH, Sturnieks DL, Davis MK, Lord SR, Okubo Y. Perturbation-Based Balance Training Using Repeated Trips on a Walkway vs. Belt Accelerations on a Treadmill: A Cross-Over Randomised Controlled Trial in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:702320. [PMID: 34490425 PMCID: PMC8417700 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.702320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Walkway and treadmill induced trips have contrasting advantages, for instance walkway trips have high-ecological validity whereas belt accelerations on a treadmill have high-clinical feasibility for perturbation-based balance training (PBT). This study aimed to (i) compare adaptations to repeated overground trips with repeated treadmill belt accelerations in older adults and (ii) determine if adaptations to repeated treadmill belt accelerations can transfer to an actual trip on the walkway. Method: Thirty-eight healthy community-dwelling older adults underwent one session each of walkway and treadmill PBT in a randomised crossover design on a single day. For both conditions, 11 trips were induced to either leg in pseudo-random locations interspersed with 20 normal walking trials. Dynamic balance (e.g., margin of stability) and gait (e.g., step length) parameters from 3D motion capture were used to examine adaptations in the walkway and treadmill PBT and transfer of adaptation from treadmill PBT to a walkway trip. Results: No changes were observed in normal (no-trip) gait parameters in both training conditions, except for a small (0.9 cm) increase in minimum toe elevation during walkway walks (P < 0.01). An increase in the margin of stability and recovery step length was observed during walkway PBT (P < 0.05). During treadmill PBT, an increased MoS, step length and decreased trunk sway range were observed (P < 0.05). These adaptations to treadmill PBT did not transfer to a walkway trip. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that older adults could learn to improve dynamic stability by repeated exposure to walkway trips as well as treadmill belt accelerations. However, the adaptations to treadmill belt accelerations did not transfer to an actual trip. To enhance the utility of treadmill PBT for overground trip recovery performance, further development of treadmill PBT protocols is recommended to improve ecological authenticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Y H Song
- Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daina L Sturnieks
- Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael K Davis
- Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Stephen R Lord
- Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yoshiro Okubo
- Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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15
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Bhatt T, Wang Y, Wang S, Kannan L. Perturbation Training for Fall-Risk Reduction in Healthy Older Adults: Interference and Generalization to Opposing Novel Perturbations Post Intervention. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:697169. [PMID: 34490424 PMCID: PMC8418084 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.697169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effects of perturbation training on the contextual interference and generalization of encountering a novel opposing perturbation. One hundred and sixty-nine community-dwelling healthy older adults (69.6 ± 6.4 years) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: slip-perturbation training (St, n = 67) group received 24 slips, trip-perturbation training (Tt, n = 67) group received 24 trips, and control (Ctrl: n = 31) group received only non-perturbed walking trials (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03199729; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03199729). After training, all groups had 30 min of rest and three post-training non-perturbed walking trials, followed by a reslip and a novel trip trial for St, a retrip and a novel slip trial for Tt, and randomized novel slip and trip trials for Ctrl. The margin of stability (MOS), step length, and toe clearance of post-training walking trials were compared among three groups to examine interferences in proactive adjustment. Falls, MOS at the instant of recovery foot touchdown, and hip height of post-training perturbation trials were investigated to detect interferences and generalization in reactive responses. Results indicated that prior adaptation to slip perturbation training, resulting in walking with a greater MOS (more anterior) and a shorter step length (p < 0.01) than that of the Ctrl group, would be associated with a greater likelihood to forward balance loss if encountered with a trip. The trip adaptation training mainly induced a higher toe clearance during walking (p < 0.01) than the Ctrl group, which could lead to reduced effectiveness of the reactive response when encountered with a novel slip. However, there was no difference in the reactive MOS, limb support, and falls between the control group and the slip and trip training groups on their respective opposing novel perturbation post-training (MOS, limb support, and falls for novel slip: Tt = Ctrl; for the novel trip: St = Ctrl, both p > 0.05). Current findings suggested that, although perturbation training results in proactive adjustments that could worsen the reactive response (interference) when exposed to an unexpected opposing perturbation, older adults demonstrated the ability to immediately generalize the training-induced adaptive reactive control to maintain MOS, to preserve limb support control, and to reduce fall risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health and Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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16
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Komisar V, Robinovitch SN. The Role of Fall Biomechanics in the Cause and Prevention of Bone Fractures in Older Adults. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2021; 19:381-390. [PMID: 34105101 DOI: 10.1007/s11914-021-00685-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Adults over age 65 experience the highest rates of bone fracture, and 90% of fractures in older adults are caused by falls from standing height or lower. Advances in fracture prevention rely on our ability to prevent falls, reduce the severity of falls, and enhance the resistance of bone to trauma. To help guide these efforts, we need improved understanding on the types of falls that cause fractures. RECENT FINDINGS In this review, we describe recent evidence on how the mechanics of falls in older adults influence the risk for fractures to the hip, wrist, vertebrae, and humerus. We discuss how fracture risk depends on fall height, fall direction, and landing configuration. We also review the benefits of exercise, wearable protective gear, and environmental modifications in preventing fractures in older adults. Our findings highlight promising new directions in fracture prevention, and the need for collaboration between the bone and falls research communities to implement proven strategies and generate new solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki Komisar
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Stephen Neil Robinovitch
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
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17
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Exploring the association between measures of obesity and measures of trip-induced fall risk among older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2021; 102:2362-2368. [PMID: 34343524 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Explore the association between measures of obesity and measures of trip-induced fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN Case-control SETTING: Gait laboratory PARTICIPANTS: Voluntary sample of 55 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) with body mass index (BMI) of 18.84-44.68 kg/m2. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Measures of obesity included six anthropometry-based measures (BMI; thigh, hip and waist circumferences; ratio of waist-to-hip circumference; and index of central obesity) and four DEXA-based measures (percent trunk, leg and total fat; and fat mass index). Measures of risk of tripping during overground walking included median and interquartile range of toe clearance, and area under the swing phase toe trajectory. Measures of trip recovery after a laboratory-induced trip included trunk angle and angular velocity at ground contact of the first recovery step, anteroposterior distance from stepping foot to center of mass at the same instant, and step time of the first recovery step. RESULTS Risk of tripping was associated with waist-to-hip ratio and thigh circumference. After grouping participants by waist-to-hip ratio, those with high ratios (≥0.9 cm for males and ≥0.85 cm for females) exhibited significantly greater variability in toe clearance. Trip recovery was associated with hip circumference, thigh circumference, fat mass index, and total fat. After grouping participants by fat mass index, those with high indices (>9 kg/m2 for males and >13 kg/m2 for females) exhibited less favorable trunk kinematics following a laboratory-induced trip (Cohen's d=0.84). CONCLUSION Waist-to-hip ratio and fat mass index may more closely relate to trip-induced fall risk than BMI among community-dwelling older adults.
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18
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Yoo D, An J, Seo KH, Lee BC. Aging Affects Lower Limb Joint Moments and Muscle Responses to a Split-Belt Treadmill Perturbation. Front Sports Act Living 2021; 3:683039. [PMID: 34350396 PMCID: PMC8326400 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.683039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related changes cause more fall-related injuries and impede the recoveries by older adults compared to younger adults. This study assessed the lower limb joint moments and muscle responses to split-belt treadmill perturbations in two groups (14 healthy young group [23.36 ± 2.90 years] and 14 healthy older group [70.93 ± 4.36 years]) who performed two trials of unexpected split-belt treadmill perturbations while walking on a programmable split-belt treadmill. A motion capture system quantified the lower limb joint moments, and a wireless electromyography system recorded the lower limb muscle responses. The compensatory limb's (i.e., the tripped limb's contralateral side) joint moments and muscle responses were computed during the pre-perturbation period (the five gait cycles before the onset of a split-belt treadmill perturbation) and the recovery period (from the split-belt treadmill perturbation to the baseline gait relying on the ground reaction forces' profile). Joint moments were assessed by maximum joint moments, and muscle responses were quantified by the normalization (%) and co-contraction index (CCI). Joint moments and muscle responses of the compensatory limb during the recovery period were significantly higher for the YG than the OG, and joint moments (e.g., knee flexion and extension and hip flexion moments) and muscle responses during the recovery period were higher compared to the pre-perturbation period for both groups. For CCI, the older group showed significantly higher co-contraction for biceps femoris/rectus femoris muscles than the young group during the recovery period. For both groups, co-contraction for biceps femoris/rectus femoris muscles was higher during the pre-perturbation period than the recovery period. The study confirmed that older adults compensated for muscle weakness by using lower joint moments and muscle activations and increasing muscle co-contractions to recover balance after split-belt treadmill perturbations. A better understanding of the recovery mechanisms of older adults who train on fall-inducing systems could improve therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyual Yoo
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Junmo An
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kap-Ho Seo
- Korea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang, South Korea.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Beom-Chan Lee
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
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19
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Yamaguchi T, Shibata K, Wada H, Kakehi H, Hokkirigawa K. Effect of foot-floor friction on the external moment about the body center of mass during shuffling gait: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12133. [PMID: 34108540 PMCID: PMC8190157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we investigated the effect of friction between foot sole and floor on the external forward moment about the body center of mass (COM) in normal and shuffling gaits. Five young male adults walked with normal and shuffling gaits, under low- and high-friction surface conditions. The maximum external forward moment about the COM (MEFM-COM) in a normal gait appeared approximately at initial foot contact and was unaffected by floor condition. However, MEFM-COM in a shuffling gait under high-friction conditions exceeded that under low-friction conditions (p < 0.001). Therein, MEFM-COM increased with an increasing utilized coefficient of friction at initial foot contact; this effect was weaker during a normal gait. These findings indicate that increased friction between foot sole and floor might increase tripping risk during a shuffling gait, even in the absence of discrete physical obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Yamaguchi
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
| | - Kei Shibata
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | | | | | - Kazuo Hokkirigawa
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
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20
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Abstract
Conditions underlying balance impairment should be identified to improve knowledge regarding clinical interventions for frail older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between balance functions and frailty by using the brief balance evaluation systems test (BESTest), which can assess biomechanical constraints, stability limits/verticality, anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs), reactive postural responses, sensory orientation and stability in gait. A total of 75 community-dwelling older women were included in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated frailty by using the Kihon checklist and assessed the participants' balance functions by using the Brief BESTest. We performed the Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to compare each balance function between frail and nonfrail participants. Twenty-two of the 75 (29.3%) participants were included in the frailty group. We noted significant differences between the frailty and nonfrailty groups with regard to stability limit, APAs, sensory orientation, and stability in gait (P = 0.010, 0.001, 0.008 and <0.001, respectively). In terms of determining frailty and nonfrailty, APAs and stability in gait were moderately accurate (the area under the curve = 0.730 and 0.713, respectively). APAs showed the highest sensitivity (0.864), whereas stability limits, sensory orientation, and stability in gait showed the highest specificity (0.943, 0.849 and 0.868, respectively). Thus, frail and nonfrail older adults showed significantly different balance functions, such as stability limits, APAs, sensory orientation and stability in gait. The Brief BESTest is useful for evaluating balance functions in relation to frailty.
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21
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Wang Y, Gangwani R, Kannan L, Schenone A, Wang E, Bhatt T. Can Smartphone-Derived Step Data Predict Laboratory-Induced Real-Life Like Fall-Risk in Community- Dwelling Older Adults? Front Sports Act Living 2020; 2:73. [PMID: 33345064 PMCID: PMC7739785 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2020.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: As age progresses, decline in physical function predisposes older adults to high fall-risk, especially on exposure to environmental perturbations such as slips and trips. However, there is limited evidence of association between daily community ambulation, an easily modifiable factor of physical activity (PA), and fall-risk. Smartphones, equipped with accelerometers, can quantify, and display daily ambulation-related PA simplistically in terms of number of steps. If any association between daily steps and fall-risks is established, smartphones due to its convenience and prevalence could provide health professionals with a meaningful outcome measure, in addition to existing clinical measurements, to identify older adults at high fall-risk. Objective: This study aimed to explore whether smartphone-derived step data during older adults' community ambulation alone or together with commonly used clinical fall-risk measurements could predict falls following laboratory-induced real-life like slips and trips. Relationship between step data and PA questionnaire and clinical fall-risk assessments were examined as well. Methods: Forty-nine community-dwelling older adults (age 60-90 years) completed Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). One-week and 1-month smartphone steps data were retrieved. Participants' 1-year fall history was noted. All participants' fall outcomes to laboratory-induced slip-and-trip perturbations were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to identify a model that best predicts laboratory falls. Pearson correlations examined relationships between study variables. Results: A model including age, TUG, and fall history significantly predicted laboratory falls with a sensitivity of 94.3%, specificity of 58.3%, and an overall accuracy of 85.1%. Neither 1-week nor 1-month steps data could predict laboratory falls. One-month steps data significantly positively correlated with BBS (r = 0.386, p = 0.006) and ABC (r = 0.369, p = 0.012), and negatively correlated with fall history (r p = -0.293, p = 0.041). Conclusion: Older participants with fall history and higher TUG scores were more likely to fall in the laboratory. No association between smartphone steps data and laboratory fall-risk was established in our study population of healthy community-dwelling older adults which calls for further studies on varied populations. Although modest, results do reveal a relationship between steps data and functional balance deficits and fear of falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiru Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rachana Gangwani
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,MS Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lakshmi Kannan
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alison Schenone
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Edward Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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22
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Shinohara T, Saida K, Miyata K. Ability of the Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test to evaluate balance deficits in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study. Physiother Theory Pract 2020; 38:1381-1388. [PMID: 33289587 DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1840682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A method for assessing balance that differentiates between balance deficit can help guide effective interventions for preventing falls in older adults. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to clarify the relationship between balance control systems and falls, and to examine the ability of the Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) to evaluate balance deficits in older adults. METHODS Overall, 109 community-dwelling older adults participated in this study. The history of falls in the last year was investigated. Balance deficits were assessed using the Brief-BESTest, the functional reach test, the Timed up and Go Test, and the one leg balance test. We analyzed the difference between the fallers and non-fallers across two different age groups. RESULTS Among younger-older group participants (age < 75 years), there were no significant differences between fallers and non-fallers across all variables. Among older-older group participants (age ≥ 75 years), there were significant differences in the Brief-BESTest total (p= .011; fallers, 13.5 versus non-fallers, 17.0) and section IV scores (postural responses of the Brief-BESTest; p= .026, 2.0 versus 5.0). There was no significant difference in other balance measurements. CONCLUSIONS The postural responses assessed by the Brief-BESTest may serve important functions and may be associated with falls in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Shinohara
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Takasaki-Shi, Japan
| | - Kosuke Saida
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Takasaki-Shi, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Miyata
- Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Science, Ibaraki, Japan
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Agrawal Y, Merfeld DM, Horak FB, Redfern MS, Manor B, Westlake KP, Holstein GR, Smith PF, Bhatt T, Bohnen NI, Lipsitz LA. Aging, Vestibular Function, and Balance: Proceedings of a National Institute on Aging/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Workshop. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:2471-2480. [PMID: 32617555 PMCID: PMC7662183 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Balance impairment and falls are among the most prevalent and morbid conditions affecting older adults. A critical contributor to balance and gait function is the vestibular system; however, there remain substantial knowledge gaps regarding age-related vestibular loss and its contribution to balance impairment and falls in older adults. Given these knowledge gaps, the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders convened a multidisciplinary workshop in April 2019 that brought together experts from a wide array of disciplines, such as vestibular physiology, neuroscience, movement science, rehabilitation, and geriatrics. The goal of the workshop was to identify key knowledge gaps on vestibular function and balance control in older adults and develop a research agenda to make substantial advancements in the field. This article provides a report of the proceedings of this workshop. Three key questions emerged from the workshop, specifically: (i) How does aging impact vestibular function?; (ii) How do we know what is the contribution of age-related vestibular impairment to an older adult's balance problem?; and more broadly, (iii) Can we develop a nosology of balance impairments in older adults that can guide clinical practice? For each of these key questions, the current knowledge is reviewed, and the critical knowledge gaps and research strategies to address them are discussed. This document outlines an ambitious 5- to 10-year research agenda for increasing knowledge related to vestibular impairment and balance control in older adults, with the ultimate goal of linking this knowledge to more effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Agrawal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Fay B Horak
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Mark S Redfern
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brad Manor
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Gay R Holstein
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Paul F Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - Nicolaas I Bohnen
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Lewis A Lipsitz
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Lee A, Bhatt T, Liu X, Wang Y, Wang S, Pai YCC. Can Treadmill Slip-Perturbation Training Reduce Longer-Term Fall Risk Upon Overground Slip Exposure? J Appl Biomech 2020; 36:298-306. [PMID: 32843581 PMCID: PMC8344091 DOI: 10.1123/jab.2019-0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose was to examine and compare the longer-term generalization between 2 different practice dosages for a single-session treadmill slip-perturbation training when reexposed to an overground slip 6 months later. A total of 45 older adults were conveniently assigned to either 24 or 40 slip-like treadmill perturbation trials or a third control group. Overground slips were given immediately after initial training, and at 6 months after initial training in order to examine immediate and longer-term effects. The performance (center of mass stability and vertical limb support) and fall percentage from the laboratory-induced overground slips (at initial posttraining and at 6 mo) were measured and compared between groups. Both treadmill slip-perturbation groups showed immediate generalization at the initial posttraining test and longer-term generalization at the 6-month retest. The higher-practice-dosage group performed significantly better than the control group (P < .05), with no difference between the lower-practice-dosage and the control groups at the 6-month retest (P > .05). A single session of treadmill slip-perturbation training showed a positive effect for reducing older adults' fall risk for laboratory-induced overground slips. A higher-practice dosage of treadmill slip perturbations could be more beneficial for further reducing fall risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lee
- University of Illinois at Chicago
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25
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Rieger MM, Papegaaij S, Steenbrink F, van Dieën JH, Pijnappels M. Perturbation-based gait training to improve daily life gait stability in older adults at risk of falling: protocol for the REACT randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:167. [PMID: 32380950 PMCID: PMC7203817 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01566-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The European population is rapidly ageing. There is an urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce fall risk in older adults. Perturbation-based gait training is a promising new method to improve reactive balance responses. Whereas positive effects on task-specific dynamic balance recovery during gait have been shown in clinical or laboratory settings, translation of these effects to daily life gait function and fall risk is limited. We aim to evaluate the effect of a 4-week perturbation-based treadmill training on daily-life dynamic gait stability, assessed with inertial sensor data. Secondary outcomes are balance recovery performance, clinical balance and gait assessment scores, the amount of physical activity in daily life and falls incidence during 6 months follow-up. Methods The study is a monocenter assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. The target study sample consists of 70 older adults of 65 years and older, living in the community and with an elevated risk of falling. A block-randomization to avoid seasonal effects will be used to allocate the participants into two groups. The experimental group receives a 4-week, two times per week perturbation-based gait training programme on a treadmill, with simulated slips and trips, in combination with cognitive dual tasks. The control group receives a 4-week, two times per week treadmill training programme under cognitive dual-task conditions without perturbations. Participants will be assessed at baseline and after the 4-weeks intervention period on their daily-life gait stability by wearing an inertial sensor on the lower back for seven consecutive days. In addition, clinical balance and gait assessments as well as questionnaires on falls- and gait-efficacy will be taken. Daily life falls will be followed up over 6 months by a fall calendar. Discussion Whereas perturbation-based training has shown positive effects in improving balance recovery strategies and in reducing laboratory falls, this study will contribute to investigate the translation of perturbation-based treadmill training effects in a clinical setting towards improving daily life gait stability and reducing fall risk and falls. Trial registration NTR7703 / NL66322.028.18, Registered: January 8, 2019; Enrolment of the first participant April 8, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Rieger
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Motek Medical BV, Hogehilweg 18C, 1101 CD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Selma Papegaaij
- Motek Medical BV, Hogehilweg 18C, 1101 CD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Steenbrink
- Motek Medical BV, Hogehilweg 18C, 1101 CD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap H van Dieën
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Pijnappels
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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König M, Epro G, Seeley J, Potthast W, Karamanidis K. Retention and generalizability of balance recovery response adaptations from trip perturbations across the adult life span. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1884-1893. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00380.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
For human locomotion, varying environments require adjustments of the motor system. We asked whether age affects gait balance recovery adaptation, its retention over months, and the transfer of adaptation to an untrained reactive balance task. Healthy adults (26 young, 27 middle-aged, and 25 older; average ages 24, 52, and 72 yr, respectively) completed two tasks. The primary task involved treadmill walking: either unperturbed (control; n = 39) or subject to unexpected trip perturbations (training; n = 39). A single trip perturbation was repeated after a 14-wk retention period. The secondary transfer task, before and after treadmill walking, involved sudden loss of balance in a lean-and-release protocol. For both tasks, the anteroposterior margin of stability (MoS) was calculated at foot touchdown. For the first (i.e., novel) trip, older adults required one more recovery step ( P = 0.03) to regain positive MoS compared with younger, but not middle-aged, adults. However, over several trip perturbations, all age groups increased their MoS for the first recovery step to a similar extent (up to 70%) and retained improvements over 14 wk, although a decay over time was found for older adults ( P = 0.002; middle-aged showing a tendency for decay: P = 0.076). Thus, although adaptability in reactive gait stability control remains effective across the adult life span, retention of adaptations over time appears diminished with aging. Despite these robust adaptations, the perturbation training group did not show superior improvements in the transfer task compared with age-matched controls (no differences in MoS changes), suggesting that generalizability of acquired fall-resisting skills from gait-perturbation training may be limited. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The human neuromotor system preserves its adaptability across the adult life span. However, although adaptability in reactive gait stability control remains effective as age increases, retention of recovery response adaptations over time appears to be reduced with aging. Furthermore, acquired fall-resisting skills from single-session perturbation training seem task specific, which may limit the generalizability of such training to the variety of real-life falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias König
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gaspar Epro
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Seeley
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Potthast
- Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kiros Karamanidis
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
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