Falls threaten the quality of life of older adults. One critical requirement for maintaining balance during gait is the ability to generate proactive postural adjustments in the face of perturbations such as slips and trips. These adjustments, generated in anticipation of encountering a perturbation, might include alterations in the body's center of mass state and changes in gait patterns. This proposed research focuses on potential associations between aging and proactive gait adjustments when repeatedly exposed to slipping and tripping hazards while walking forward and backward. Additionally, this research will compare how young and older adults change their anticipatory gait adjustments when uncertain of the nature of the perturbation (slip or trip). In summary, potential findings of this study may reveal differences in proactive postural responses between young and older adults. These differences may then be used to better identify those at risk of falling and to develop specific interventions improving recovery strategies and thus minimizing fall incidence.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AG025684-02
Application #
7147437
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-L (29))
Program Officer
Yancik, Rosemary
Project Start
2005-10-01
Project End
2010-09-30
Budget Start
2006-10-01
Budget End
2007-09-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$41,104
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213