Open AccessCan Treadmill Slip-Perturbation Training Reduce Longer-Term Fall Risk Upon Overground Slip Exposure?
Author(s) -
Anna Lee,
Tanvi Bhatt,
Xuan Li,
Yiru Wang,
Shuaijie Wang,
Yi–Chung Pai
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied biomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1543-2688
pISSN - 1065-8483
DOI - 10.1123/jab.2019-0211
Subject(s) - treadmill , slip (aerodynamics) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , perturbation (astronomy) , physical therapy , medicine , fall prevention , mathematics , poison control , injury prevention , physics , medical emergency , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
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.