Michael G Browne1, Jason R Franz2. 1. Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 2. Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: jrfranz@email.unc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Compared to young adults, older adults walk slower, with shorter strides, and with a characteristic decrease in ankle power output. Seemingly in response, older adults rely more than young on hip power output, a phenomenon known as a distal-to-proximal redistribution. Nevertheless, older adults can increase ankle power to walk faster or uphill, revealing a translationally important gap in our understanding. RESEARCH QUESTION: Our purpose was to implement a novel ankle power biofeedback paradigm to encourage favorable biomechanical adaptations (i.e. reverse the distal-redistribution) during habitual speed walking in older adults. METHODS: 10 healthy older adults walked at their preferred speeds while real-time visual biofeedback provided target increases and decreases of 10 and 20% different from preferred ankle power. We evaluated the effect of changes in ankle power on joint kinetics, kinematics, and propulsive ground reaction forces. Pre and post overground walking speed assessments evaluated the effect of increased ankle power recall on walking speed. RESULTS: Biofeedback systematically elicited changes in ankle power; increasing and decreasing ankle power by 14% and 17% when targeting ±20% different from preferred, respectively. We observed a significant negative correlation between ankle power and hip extensor work. Older adults relied more heavily on changes in ankle angular velocity than ankle moment to modulate ankle power. Lastly, older adults walked almost 11% faster when recalling increased ankle power overground. SIGNIFICANCE: Older adults are capable of increasing ankle power through targeted ankle power biofeedback - effects that are accompanied by diminished hip power output and attenuation of the distal-to-proximal redistribution. The associated increase in preferred walking speed during recall suggests a functional benefit to increased ankle power output via transfer to overground walking. Further, our mechanistic insights allude to translational success using ankle angular velocity as a surrogate to modulate ankle power through biofeedback.
BACKGROUND: Compared to young adults, older adults walk slower, with shorter strides, and with a characteristic decrease in ankle power output. Seemingly in response, older adults rely more than young on hip power output, a phenomenon known as a distal-to-proximal redistribution. Nevertheless, older adults can increase ankle power to walk faster or uphill, revealing a translationally important gap in our understanding. RESEARCH QUESTION: Our purpose was to implement a novel ankle power biofeedback paradigm to encourage favorable biomechanical adaptations (i.e. reverse the distal-redistribution) during habitual speed walking in older adults. METHODS: 10 healthy older adults walked at their preferred speeds while real-time visual biofeedback provided target increases and decreases of 10 and 20% different from preferred ankle power. We evaluated the effect of changes in ankle power on joint kinetics, kinematics, and propulsive ground reaction forces. Pre and post overground walking speed assessments evaluated the effect of increased ankle power recall on walking speed. RESULTS: Biofeedback systematically elicited changes in ankle power; increasing and decreasing ankle power by 14% and 17% when targeting ±20% different from preferred, respectively. We observed a significant negative correlation between ankle power and hip extensor work. Older adults relied more heavily on changes in ankle angular velocity than ankle moment to modulate ankle power. Lastly, older adults walked almost 11% faster when recalling increased ankle power overground. SIGNIFICANCE: Older adults are capable of increasing ankle power through targeted ankle power biofeedback - effects that are accompanied by diminished hip power output and attenuation of the distal-to-proximal redistribution. The associated increase in preferred walking speed during recall suggests a functional benefit to increased ankle power output via transfer to overground walking. Further, our mechanistic insights allude to translational success using ankle angular velocity as a surrogate to modulate ankle power through biofeedback.
Authors: HaoYuan Hsiao; Louis N Awad; Jacqueline A Palmer; Jill S Higginson; Stuart A Binder-Macleod Journal: Neurorehabil Neural Repair Date: 2015-12-31 Impact factor: 3.919
Authors: T Brock Symons; Anthony A Vandervoort; Charles L Rice; Tom J Overend; Greg D Marsh Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Stephanie A Studenski; Katherine W Peters; Dawn E Alley; Peggy M Cawthon; Robert R McLean; Tamara B Harris; Luigi Ferrucci; Jack M Guralnik; Maren S Fragala; Anne M Kenny; Douglas P Kiel; Stephen B Kritchevsky; Michelle D Shardell; Thuy-Tien L Dam; Maria T Vassileva Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Richard E Pimentel; Noah L Pieper; William H Clark; Jason R Franz Journal: Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin Date: 2021-03-22 Impact factor: 1.763
Authors: Noah L Pieper; Sidney T Baudendistel; Chris J Hass; Gabriela B Diaz; Rebecca L Krupenevich; Jason R Franz Journal: J Biomech Date: 2021-04-18 Impact factor: 2.789
Authors: Dheepak Arumukhom Revi; Andre M Alvarez; Conor J Walsh; Stefano M M De Rossi; Louis N Awad Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2020-06-29 Impact factor: 4.262
Authors: Arthur H Dewolf; Francesca Sylos-Labini; Germana Cappellini; Yury Ivanenko; Francesco Lacquaniti Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 3.240