Beek, J.F.E. van (Juliette) (2020) Lower extremity power production during split-belt adaptation across the adult lifespan. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether age influences lower extremity work production on the center-of-mass (CoM) during split-belt walking and see if the ability to adapt work output to split-belt walking changes across the lifespan. The ability to adapt is suggested to be related to the ability to economize costs of walking. Age-related changes in neuromuscular control, such as the distal to proximal shift of muscle activity, are expected to underly differences in adaptation. Methods: Seventy-four healthy adults (aged 18-79 yr) performed a split-belt protocol which consisted of tied-belts and split-belts intervals. External mechanical work (EMW) on the CoM was calculated separately for the single support- (SS) and step-to-step (S2S) transition phases. A t-test on mean EMW scores was performed to check whether changes in power output occurred during adaptation. Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the effect of age on power output during baseline and adaptation conditions. Results: An effect of age on work production during SS- and S2S-transition was already present at baseline. Results confirmed adaptation of power output for all participants over the course of the adaptation condition. Age-related differences in adaptation were present during the adaptation- and post-adaptation condition, indicating a loss of adaptability in older adults. Conclusion: Aging affects mechanical work production during adaptation to split-belt walking, showing a shift from work production during S2S-transition to work output during SS. The preferred strategy to adapt to split-belt walking seems to be age-dependent, as young adults seem to economize their work output by increasing S2S-transition work produced by the fast leg, and older adults economize work output by decreasing SS work from the slow leg. The absence of aftereffects with age suggest an inability to adapt gait. We suggest that this is a result of deteriorated neuromuscular properties with age. Key Words: Aging, Split-belt walking, Biomechanics, Mechanical work, Locomotor adaptation
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Lamoth, dr. C.J.C. and Houdijk, H. and Otter, A.R. den |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 16 May 2022 09:17 |
| Last Modified: | 16 May 2022 09:17 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3335 |
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