Recovery from forward loss of balance in young and older adults using the stepping strategy

Contribution of lower limb eccentric work and different step responses to balance recovery among older adults

“…In addition to conventional sagittal plane analysis the current research measured the resultant margin of stability (MoSt) and available response time (ARTt) in the transverse plane. Consistent with Carty et al [5,12] single-step recovery responses showed greater MoS than multi-step at initial foot contact (Fig. 2).…”

“…When falling momentum is directed more vertically, rather than anteriorly, horizontal CoM velocity reduces proportionally, improving balance by allowing more effective lower limb eccentric work by both the knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors. In addition to momentum control, the results showed that a longer, faster recovery step helps to preserve balance by extending the anterior BoS [5,12,25]. Greater step length and velocity was correlated with greater eccentric work at both the knee and ankle, supporting the balance modelling proposed by Wu et al [16].…”

“…Following the interpretation of Carty et al [5], further important correlations were identified for effects of step length and velocity on other parameters.…”

“…Falling risk during walking is due to two interacting processes; (i) the individual's proneness to balance disturbance and (ii) their subsequent ability to recover stability and avoid falling. Ageing is associated with impaired neuromuscular function and reduced capacity for balance recovery [4][5][6][7][8][9] and in older adults forward balance loss is most frequently observed [10]. The influence of ageing on forward balance recovery using either a single-step or multi-step response has been previously demonstrated [4][5][6]11,12].…”

“…Ageing is associated with impaired neuromuscular function and reduced capacity for balance recovery [4][5][6][7][8][9] and in older adults forward balance loss is most frequently observed [10]. The influence of ageing on forward balance recovery using either a single-step or multi-step response has been previously demonstrated [4][5][6]11,12]. Carty and colleagues, for example, showed that a single-step strategy was most advantageous because longer, faster recovery steps increased the widely accepted measure of dynamic balance, ''margin of stability (MoS)'' defined as the predicted displacement between the anterior base of support (BoS) boundary and the horizontal centre of mass (CoM) position combined with the velocity factor, ''extrapolated centre of mass (XCoM)'' [6,13].…”