Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA; Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA.
Exp Gerontol. 2023 Mar;173:112102. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112102. Epub 2023 Jan 21.
Changes in old age that contribute to the complex issue of an increased metabolic cost of walking (mass-specific energy cost per unit distance traveled) in older adults appear to center at least in part on changes in gait biomechanics. However, age-related changes in energy metabolism, neuromuscular function and connective tissue properties also likely contribute to this problem, of which the consequences are poor mobility and increased risk of inactivity-related disease and disability. The U.S. National Institute on Aging convened a workshop in September 2021 with an interdisciplinary group of scientists to address the gaps in research related to the mechanisms and consequences of changes in mobility in old age. The goal of the workshop was to identify promising ways to move the field forward toward improving gait performance, decreasing energy cost, and enhancing mobility for older adults. This report summarizes the workshop and brings multidisciplinary insight into the known and potential causes and consequences of age-related changes in gait biomechanics. We highlight how gait mechanics and energy cost change with aging, the potential neuromuscular mechanisms and role of connective tissue in these changes, and cutting-edge interventions and technologies that may be used to measure and improve gait and mobility in older adults. Key gaps in the literature that warrant targeted research in the future are identified and discussed.
衰老引起的变化导致老年人行走代谢成本增加（单位距离行走的比能消耗），这是一个复杂的问题，其中心至少部分在于步态生物力学的变化。然而，与年龄相关的能量代谢、神经肌肉功能和结缔组织特性的变化也可能导致这个问题，其后果是活动能力差，以及与不活动相关的疾病和残疾风险增加。美国国家老龄化研究所于 2021 年 9 月召集了一次研讨会，邀请了一组跨学科的科学家，以解决与老年人移动性变化的机制和后果相关的研究空白。研讨会的目标是确定有希望的方法，以推动该领域的发展，提高步态表现，降低能量成本，并增强老年人的活动能力。本报告总结了研讨会的情况，并将步态生物力学与年龄相关变化的已知和潜在原因和后果纳入多学科视角。我们强调了随着年龄的增长，步态力学和能量消耗如何变化，潜在的神经肌肉机制以及结缔组织在这些变化中的作用，以及可能用于测量和改善老年人步态和活动能力的前沿干预措施和技术。确定并讨论了未来需要有针对性研究的文献中的关键空白。
