Open AccessInfluence of Vision on Gait Initiation and First Step Kinematics in Young and Older Adults
Author(s) -
Jana Kimijanová,
Zuzana Hirjaková,
Diana Bzdúšková,
F Hlavačka
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.934813
Subject(s) - kinematics , trunk , physical medicine and rehabilitation , center of pressure (fluid mechanics) , gait , psychology , medicine , physics , mechanics , ecology , classical mechanics , aerodynamics , biology
The study investigated whether anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) of gait initiation and kinematics of the first step are modified with absence of vision in relation to age. Twenty-two young and twenty-two older subjects initiated a self-paced gait with the vision available and deprived. APAs were measured by: (1) force platform and evaluated by maximal amplitude of the center of pressure (CoP) displacements; (2) two inertial sensors attached to the trunk and evaluated by maximal accelerations. Step kinematics was recorded using a motion capture system and evaluated by duration, length and maximal velocity of the first step. Visual deprivation led to a significant reduction of forward trunk accelerations during the anticipatory phase of stepping in older adults. Moreover, they significantly reduced first step length and maximal velocity and prolonged duration of the first step. Contrary, young adults did not respond to absence of vision by significant changes of neither APAs, nor first step kinematics. These findings suggest that gait initiation is strongly associated with increased reliance on vision in older adults. We further indicate that trunk accelerations during the anticipatory phase of stepping may be a more sensitive measure to detect age-related changes of APAs due to absent visual information compared to CoP.