Van Emmerik R E A, McDermott W J, Haddad J M, Van Wegen E E H
Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Massachusetts, 160 Totman Building, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Gait Posture. 2005 Nov;22(3):233-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2004.09.006. Epub 2004 Dec 8.
Assessments of changes in gait stability due to aging and disease are predominantly based on lower extremity kinematic and kinetic data. These gait changes are also often based on comparisons at preferred speed only. The purpose of this experiment was to: (1) examine age-related changes in range of motion and coordination of segments of the upper body during locomotion; and (2) investigate the effects of a systematic walking velocity manipulation on rotational motion and coordination. Participants (n=30) walked on a motor driven treadmill at speeds ranging from 0.2 to 1.8m/s and were divided into three groups with mean ages of 23.3, 49.3 and 72.6 years, respectively. Seven high-speed infrared cameras were used to record three-dimensional kinematics of the pelvis, trunk and head. Dependent variables were amplitude of segmental and joint rotations, as well as relative phase to assess coordination between segments. Although no differences in stride parameters were found between the groups, age-related changes in movement amplitude in response to speed manipulations were observed for all segments and joints. Pelvic rotations in sagittal, frontal and transverse planes of motion were systematically reduced with age. Older individuals showed reduced trunk flexion-extension in the sagittal plane and increased trunk axial rotation in the transverse plane. Coordination analysis showed reduced compensatory movement between pelvis and trunk in older individuals. These findings support the importance of systematic manipulation of walking velocity and three-dimensional upper body kinematics in assessing age-related changes in locomotor stability and adaptability.
对衰老和疾病导致的步态稳定性变化的评估主要基于下肢运动学和动力学数据。这些步态变化通常也仅基于在偏好速度下的比较。本实验的目的是：（1）研究运动过程中上身各节段的运动范围和协调性的年龄相关变化；（2）研究系统地改变步行速度对旋转运动和协调性的影响。参与者（n = 30）在电动跑步机上以0.2至1.8m/s的速度行走，并被分为三组，平均年龄分别为23.3岁、49.3岁和72.6岁。使用七台高速红外摄像机记录骨盆、躯干和头部的三维运动学。因变量为节段和关节旋转的幅度，以及用于评估节段间协调性的相对相位。尽管各组之间在步幅参数上未发现差异，但在所有节段和关节中均观察到了随速度变化而出现的与年龄相关的运动幅度变化。随着年龄的增长，骨盆在矢状面、额状面和横断面的旋转有系统性的减少。老年人在矢状面的躯干屈伸减少，在横断面的躯干轴向旋转增加。协调性分析表明，老年人骨盆和躯干之间的代偿性运动减少。这些发现支持了在评估与年龄相关的运动稳定性和适应性变化时，系统地改变步行速度和进行三维上身运动学研究的重要性。
