Transfer and retention effects of gait training with anterior-posterior perturbations to postural responses after medio-lateral gait perturbations in older adults

Rieger, S. Papegaaij, M. Pijnappels, F. Steenbrink, J. H. van Dieën*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Gait perturbations, occurring in any direction in daily life, may result in a fall. In fall prevention, gait perturbation training is a promising approach. Treadmill perturbations in anterior-posterior direction can easily be applied by accelerations or decelerations of the belt, but it is unknown whether training effects transfer to reactive recovery in medio-lateral direction. We aimed to evaluate the transfer and retention effects of gait training with treadmill perturbations in anterior-posterior direction to medio-lateral reactive recovery. Methods: 30 community dwelling older adults (>65 years) participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to a treadmill training session either with 16 anterior-posterior perturbations or with treadmill walking. The assessments contained a walking trial with 4 anterior-posterior and 4 medio-lateral perturbations. Deviations in trunk velocity from unperturbed walking were summed over the first three strides after perturbation as a measure of recovery. Findings: An exposure to gait perturbations during the baseline assessment led to significant improvement of recovery responses. For anterior-posterior perturbations, both groups showed better recovery immediately and 1-week post-intervention, and no group x time interaction was found. For medio-lateral perturbations, both groups showed better recovery immediately and 1-week post-intervention, and again no group × time interaction. Interpretation: Baseline assessment with perturbations in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions caused significant improvements that were retained. Short-term training can be effective in dynamic stabilization of one's trunk, but our findings do not exclude that multi-directional perturbations may be needed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104988
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Biomechanics
Volume75
Early online date5 Mar 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding information:

European Union (EU) - Horizon 2020
MSCA-ITN-ETN, Keep Control, Grant number 721577

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 72157 . Mirjam Pijnappels was funded by a VIDI grant (no. 91714344 ) from the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research ( NWO ). The first author is an early stage researcher, employed by Motek Medical BV. The position is funded the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 72157 . Further, two authors are employed by Motek Medical BV and a device of this company was used for this experiment. Analysis of data was done by the first author, employed by Motek Medical BV, in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

FundersFunder number
Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research
Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Motek Medical BV
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme72157, 91714344, 721577
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Horizon 2020

    Keywords

    • Accidental falls
    • Aging
    • Exercise test
    • Postural balance
    • Treadmill
    • Walking

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