AGE-DIFFERENCES IN THE FREE VERTICAL MOMENTS DURING STEPPING DOWN - PILOT

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand age-differences in body control during stepping down by investigating free vertical moments (FVMs). Two older adults and two young adults participated in this study. During each trial, lower extremities kinematics were measured using a 10 camera Vicon system (250Hz) and ground reaction forces were recorded using two Kistler force platforms (1000Hz). FVM was calculated by ground reaction forces using Visual3D software. The results indicated young adults showed adduction-FVM (ADD-FVM) but older adults presented abduction-FVM (ABD-FVM) during double-stance phase. Older adults seemed to exert more ABD-FVM than young adults while in the single support phase. It was concluded that the FVMs seemed to point to different strategies between older adults and young adults.