Hiew Shawn, Eibeck Leila, Nguemeni Carine, Zeller Daniel
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Brain Sci. 2023 Aug 31;13(9):1266. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091266.
Aging increases individual susceptibility to falls and injuries, suggesting poorer adaptation of balance responses to perturbation during locomotion, which can be measured with the locomotor adaptation task (LAT). However, it is unclear how aging and lifestyle factors affect these responses during walking. Hence, the present study investigates the relationship between balance and lifestyle factors during the LAT in healthy individuals across the adult lifespan using a correlational design.
Thirty participants aged 20-78 years performed an LAT on a split-belt treadmill (SBT). We evaluated the magnitude and rate of adaptation and deadaptation during the LAT. Participants reported their lifelong physical and cognitive activity.
Age positively correlated with gait-line length asymmetry at the late post-adaptation phase ( = 0.007). These age-related effects were mediated by recent physical activity levels ( = 0.040).
Our results confirm that locomotor adaptive responses are preserved in aging, but the ability to deadapt newly learnt balance responses is compromised with age. Physical activity mediates these age-related effects. Therefore, gait symmetry post-adaptation could effectively measure the risk of falling, and maintaining physical activity could protect against declines in balance.
衰老会增加个体跌倒和受伤的易感性，这表明在运动过程中平衡反应对扰动的适应性较差，而这可以通过运动适应任务（LAT）来测量。然而，目前尚不清楚衰老和生活方式因素如何影响行走过程中的这些反应。因此，本研究采用相关设计，调查了成年期健康个体在LAT期间平衡与生活方式因素之间的关系。
30名年龄在20 - 78岁之间的参与者在分体式跑步机（SBT）上进行了LAT。我们评估了LAT期间适应和去适应的程度及速率。参与者报告了他们一生的身体和认知活动情况。
年龄与适应后期的步态线长度不对称呈正相关（= 0.007）。这些与年龄相关的影响由近期身体活动水平介导（= 0.040）。
我们的结果证实，运动适应性反应在衰老过程中得以保留，但新习得的平衡反应去适应能力会随着年龄增长而受损。身体活动介导了这些与年龄相关的影响。因此，适应后的步态对称性可以有效测量跌倒风险，保持身体活动可以防止平衡能力下降。
