The long term objective of this research is to understand balance control in static and dynamic tasks, specifically as it relates to the physiological and biomechanical constraints faced by the aging adult.
Specific Aims i nclude: I) To determine the limitations on response capabilities in older adults, and older adults with a history of falling, as compared to young adults, when confronted with threats to balance of varying magnitudes designed to elicit a variety of adaptive balance strategies; 2) To determine whether the balance strategies used by young adults, older adults, and older adults with a history of falling, during stance perturbations are generalizable to the conditions under which most people fall, that is, during locomotion; and 3) To determine if one of the contributing factors to loss of balance in older adults with a history of falling is the inadequate allocation of attentional resources for balance control during the simultaneous performance of multiple tasks. Specifically, we propose to compare the neuromuscular (electromyographic), behavioral (kinematic) and force (kinetic) recordings of the responses of young adults, healthy older adults and older adults with balance problems, during the following balance conditions: a) During quiet stance, and during walking, horizontal platform displacements of varying sizes and velocities will be given to the subjects, in order to determine their ability to use a variety of adaptive balance strategies. b) During quiet stance subjects will be asked to balance under a variety of sensory conditions (eyes open, eyes closed, normal support surface, support surface rotating with body sway) while performing a simultaneous secondary cognitive task, designed to compete with the postural control system for attentional resources. Stability will be compared when balancing with and without the simultaneous performance of the secondary task. The ultimate goal of this work is to understand the specific neural and musculoskeletal constraints that contribute to balance problems in the healthy older adult and the older adult with balance problems so that we might design better health maintenance and rehabilitation programs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG005317-12
Application #
6043013
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG4-GRM (01))
Project Start
1985-06-01
Project End
2001-07-31
Budget Start
1999-08-01
Budget End
2001-07-31
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Oregon
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
948117312
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97403
Fujimoto, Masahiro; Hsu, Wei-Li; Woollacott, Marjorie H et al. (2013) Ankle dorsiflexor strength relates to the ability to restore balance during a backward support surface translation. Gait Posture 38:812-7
Hsu, Wei-Li; Chou, Li-Shan; Woollacott, Marjorie (2013) Age-related changes in joint coordination during balance recovery. Age (Dordr) 35:1299-309
Johnson, Tammie K; Woollacott, Marjorie H (2011) Neuromuscular responses to platform perturbations in power- versus endurance-trained athletes. Percept Mot Skills 112:3-20
McChesney, J W; Woollacott, M H (2000) The effect of age-related declines in proprioception and total knee replacement on postural control. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 55:M658-66
Shumway-Cook, A; Woollacott, M; Kerns, K A et al. (1997) The effects of two types of cognitive tasks on postural stability in older adults with and without a history of falls. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 52:M232-40
Hu, M H; Woollacott, M H (1994) Multisensory training of standing balance in older adults: I. Postural stability and one-leg stance balance. J Gerontol 49:M52-61
Hu, M H; Woollacott, M H (1994) Multisensory training of standing balance in older adults: II. Kinematic and electromyographic postural responses. J Gerontol 49:M62-71
Woollacott, M H; Manchester, D L (1993) Anticipatory postural adjustments in older adults: are changes in response characteristics due to changes in strategy? J Gerontol 48:M64-70
Woollacott, M H (1993) Age-related changes in posture and movement. J Gerontol 48 Spec No:56-60