Effects of exercise habituation and aging on the intersegmental coordination of lower limbs during walking with sinusoidal speed change
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background The time courses of the joint elevation angles of the thigh, shank, and foot in one stride during walking can be well approximated by a “plane” in a triaxial space. This intersegmental coordination (IC) of the lower limb elevation angles is referred to as the planar covariation law. We examined the effects of exercise habituation and aging on the thickness of the IC plane of the lower limbs under sinusoidal speed changing conditions. Methods Seventeen sedentary young (SY), 16 active young (AY), and 16 active elderly (AE) adults walked on a treadmill in accordance with a sinusoidal speed changing protocol at 120, 60, and 30 s periods with an amplitude of ± 0.56 m·s−1. Motion of the lower limbs from the sagittal direction was recorded to calculate the elevation angles of the lower limbs. When the best-fit IC plane was determined, the smallest standard deviation of the IC plane was considered as the anteroposterior gait variability of the lower limbs. The coefficient of variance of the step width was also quantified to evaluate the lateral step variability (CVSW). Results The standard deviation of the IC plane was significantly greater in the order of SY, AY, and AE, regardless of the sinusoidal wave periods of the changing speed. The CVSW was not significantly different among the three groups. Conclusions Exercise habituation influences anteroposterior gait variability of the lower limbs, but not lateral step variability, even in young adults. Given these, gait adaptability for sinusoidal speed changes does not always decline with aging. Trial registration UMIN000031456 ( R000035911 ; registered February 23, 2018).
Authors: Daijiro Abe, Kiyotaka Motoyama, Takehiro Tashiro, Akira Saito, Masahiro Horiuchi
Institutions: Kyushu Sangyo University, Mount Fuji Research Institute
Language: English
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,390
Awards: Experimental approach for integrative gait control using sinusoidal speed changing protocol, Physical conditioning combined with stretching and electrical stimulation, Impariment of vascular function during prolonged sitting, Classification of throwing motion using a ball that cannot be grasped and consideration of throwing practice in children, Indexing walking ability from economy and control perspectives and exploring mechanisms for gait transition and optimal walking speeds
OpenAlex ID: W4281687902