The effect of obesity and gender on body segment parameters in older adults

Abstract

Background-Anthropometry is a necessary aspect of aging-related research, especially in biomechanics and injury prevention. Little information is available on inertial parameters in the geriatric population that account for gender and obesity effects. The goal of this study was to report body segment parameters in adults aged 65 years and older, and to investigate the impact of aging, gender and obesity.Methods-Eighty-three healthy old (65-75 yrs) and elderly (>75 yrs) adults were recruited to represent a range of body types. Participants underwent a whole body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. Analysis was limited to segment mass, length, longitudinal center of mass position, and frontal plane radius of gyration. A mixed-linear regression model was performed using gender, obesity, age group and two-way and three-way interactions (α=0.05).Findings-Mass distribution varied with obesity and gender. Males had greater trunk and upper extremity mass while females had a higher lower extremity mass. In general, obese elderly adults had significantly greater trunk segment mass with less thigh and shank segment mass than all others. Gender and obesity effects were found in center of mass and radius of gyration. Non-obese individuals possessed a more distal thigh and shank center of mass than obese. Interestingly, females had more distal trunk center of mass than males.Interpretation-Age, obesity and gender have a significant impact on segment mass, center of mass and radius of gyration in old and elderly adults. This study underlines the need to consider age, obesity and gender when utilizing anthropometric data sets.

Cervical spine instability following axial compression injury: A biomechanical study

“…We did not determine the effects of varying initial head-neck posture, head or torso masses, or impact speed on the biomechanical instability parameters. We used a torso equivalent rigid mass of 55.5 kg which represented that of a heavier athlete or obese male [30]. We assumed that the entire torso mass acted on the neck due to its forward momentum during head-first impact.…”

Biomechanics of Sports-Induced Axial-Compression Injuries of the Neck

“…I used a torso-equivalent rigid mass of 55.5 kg, which represented the mass of a heavier athlete or obese male. 21 I assumed that the entire torso mass acted on the neck due to its forward momentum during head-first impact. This represented the worst-case scenario for causation of neck injuries.…”

“…The mass (55.5 kg) represented the equivalent torso mass of a heavier athlete or an obese male. 21 I assumed that the entire torso mass acted on the neck due to its forward momentum during head-first impact. An upward force was used to counterbalance the head weight and to maintain the head and neck posture before impact.…”

Effects of sex, age, body height and body weight on spinal loads: Sensitivity analyses in a subject-specific trunk musculoskeletal model

“…Pearsall et al (Pearsall, 1994;Pearsall et al, 1996) evaluated this distribution in lean individuals using CT imaging. For overweight and obese individuals, however, available studies have estimated only the total trunk mass center by MR images (Matrangola et al, 2008), X-ray absorptiometry scans (Chambers et al, 2010) and 3D body scans (Pryce and Kriellaars, 2014). Consequently, the required segmental weight distribution in overweight and obese individuals has not yet been estimated.…”