Steven Morrison1, Sheri R Colberg2, Henri K Parson3, Serina Neumann4, Richard Handel4, Etta J Vinik3, James Paulson5, Arthur I Vinik3. 1. School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. Electronic address: smorriso@odu.edu. 2. Human Movement Sciences Department, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. 3. Strelitz Diabetes Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA. 5. Psychology Sciences Department, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: For older adults, falls are a serious health problem, with more than 30% of people older than 65 suffering a fall at least once a year. One element often overlooked in the assessment of falls is whether a person's balance, walking ability, and overall falls risk is affected by performing activities of daily living such as walking. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the immediate impact of incline walking at a moderate pace on falls risk, leg strength, reaction time, gait, and balance in 75 healthy adults from 30 to 79 years of age. Subjects were subdivided into 5 equal groups based on their age (group 1, 30-39 years; group 2, 40-49 years; group 3, 50-59 years; group 4, 60-69 years; group 5, 70-79 years). METHODS: Each person's falls risk (using the Physiological Profile Assessment), simple reaction time, leg strength, walking ability, and standing balance were assessed before and after a period of incline walking on an automated treadmill. The walking task consisted of three 5-minute trials at a faster than preferred pace. Fatigue during walking was elicited by increasing the treadmill incline in increments of 2° (from level) every minute to a maximum of 8°. RESULTS: As predicted, significant age-related differences were observed before the walking activity. In general, increasing age was associated with declines in gait speed, lower limb strength, slower reaction times, and increases in overall falls risk. Following the treadmill task, older adults exhibited increased sway (path length 60-69 years; 10.2 ± 0.7 to 12.1 ± 0.7 cm: 70-79 years; 12.8 ± 1.1 to 15.1 ± 0.8 cm), slower reaction times (70-79 years; 256 ± 6 to 287 ± 8 ms), and declines in lower limb strength (60-69 years; 36 ± 2 to 31 ± 1 kg: 70-79 years; 32.3 ± 2 to 27 ± 1 kg). However, a significant increase in overall falls risk (pre; 0.51 ± 0.17: post; 1.01 ± 0.18) was only seen in the oldest group (70-79 years). For all other persons (30-69 years), changes resulting from the treadmill-walking task did not lead to a significant increase in falls risk. CONCLUSIONS: As most falls occur when an individual is moving and/or fatigued, assessing functional properties related to balance, gait, strength, and falls risk in older adults both at rest and following activity may provide additional insight.
BACKGROUND: For older adults, falls are a serious health problem, with more than 30% of people older than 65 suffering a fall at least once a year. One element often overlooked in the assessment of falls is whether a person's balance, walking ability, and overall falls risk is affected by performing activities of daily living such as walking. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the immediate impact of incline walking at a moderate pace on falls risk, leg strength, reaction time, gait, and balance in 75 healthy adults from 30 to 79 years of age. Subjects were subdivided into 5 equal groups based on their age (group 1, 30-39 years; group 2, 40-49 years; group 3, 50-59 years; group 4, 60-69 years; group 5, 70-79 years). METHODS: Each person's falls risk (using the Physiological Profile Assessment), simple reaction time, leg strength, walking ability, and standing balance were assessed before and after a period of incline walking on an automated treadmill. The walking task consisted of three 5-minute trials at a faster than preferred pace. Fatigue during walking was elicited by increasing the treadmill incline in increments of 2° (from level) every minute to a maximum of 8°. RESULTS: As predicted, significant age-related differences were observed before the walking activity. In general, increasing age was associated with declines in gait speed, lower limb strength, slower reaction times, and increases in overall falls risk. Following the treadmill task, older adults exhibited increased sway (path length 60-69 years; 10.2 ± 0.7 to 12.1 ± 0.7 cm: 70-79 years; 12.8 ± 1.1 to 15.1 ± 0.8 cm), slower reaction times (70-79 years; 256 ± 6 to 287 ± 8 ms), and declines in lower limb strength (60-69 years; 36 ± 2 to 31 ± 1 kg: 70-79 years; 32.3 ± 2 to 27 ± 1 kg). However, a significant increase in overall falls risk (pre; 0.51 ± 0.17: post; 1.01 ± 0.18) was only seen in the oldest group (70-79 years). For all other persons (30-69 years), changes resulting from the treadmill-walking task did not lead to a significant increase in falls risk. CONCLUSIONS: As most falls occur when an individual is moving and/or fatigued, assessing functional properties related to balance, gait, strength, and falls risk in older adults both at rest and following activity may provide additional insight.
Authors: Catherine A Richardson; Nancy W Glynn; Luigi G Ferrucci; Dawn C Mackey Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2014-09-04 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Etta J Vinik; Aaron I Vinik; Serina A Neumann; Rajan Lamichhane; Steven Morrison; Sheri R Colberg; Ying-Chuen Lai; James Paulson; Richard Handel; Carolina Casellini; Kim Hodges; Joshua Edwards; Henri K Parson Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2019-12-16 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: Augustine A Acquah; Clive D'Souza; Bernard J Martin; John Arko-Mensah; Paul K Botwe; Prudence Tettey; Duah Dwomoh; Afua Amoabeng Nti; Lawrencia Kwarteng; Sylvia Takyi; Isabella A Quakyi; Thomas G Robins; Julius N Fobil Journal: Int J Ind Ergon Date: 2021-02-23 Impact factor: 2.656