Heesterbeek, M. (Marelle) (2016) Ankle quasi joint stiffness during walking in the ageing population: impact of age, gender and activity. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Introduction: Dynamic ankle stiffness is a crucial characteristic of motor control during gait. Assessing ankle quasi joint stiffness (QJS) can help to characterise dynamic ankle joint function, and explain inter-individual differences in gait within the ageing population. Purpose: To compare ankle QJS during walking, between ages, gender and activity levels, and establish relationships between ankle QJS and other gait parameters in older adults. Methods: One hundred and four participants (38 men, 66 women, mean age = 65.2 ± 6.0 years) were included in this study. Ankle rocker and forefoot rocker QJS of the ankle were used as a measure for dynamic ankle stiffness. Kinematics and kinetics during walking at self-selected speed were recorded to evaluate ankle QJS. Results: Ankle QJS was not significantly (pankle rocker >.05, pforefoot rocker >.05) different between men (Meanankle rocker =.041, Meanforefoot rocker =.025 Nm/kg/m/deg) and women (Meanankle rocker =.038, Meanforefoot rocker =.023 Nm/kg/m/deg), or between active (Meanankle rocker =.040, Meanforefoot rocker =.024 Nm/kg/m/deg) and less active (Meanankle rocker =.036, Meanforefoot rocker =.023 Nm/kg/m/deg) older adults. No significant relationship was found between ankle QJS and age (rankle rocker =.16 (p >.05), rforefoot rocker =.14 (p >.05). Conclusion: Ankle QJS, and thus the mechanical properties of the ankle, are relatively consistent across gender, age and activity levels within the healthy, physically active ageing population. The results of the present study in combination with the results of previous studies suggest that potential age-related differences in ankle QJS may occur before the age of 55. Keywords: Ankle, Quasi Joint Stiffness, Biomechanics, Ageing, Physical Activity
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Lamoth, C.J.C. and Taylor, M.J.D. and Hettinga, F.J. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Apr 2022 12:21 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Apr 2022 12:21 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3144 |
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