The Addition of Optic Flow Lessens Age Related Differences During Gait Adaptation
Advisor Information
Mukul Mukherjee
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
2-3-2018 12:30 PM
End Date
2-3-2018 1:45 PM
Abstract
Research has shown that multiple components of locomotion in healthy populations differ when stratified by age. While these studies indicate differences between healthy young and older populations, it is currently unclear at what age such decrements begin to have a significant impact. Therefore, the purpose of this ongoing study is to determine the effect of age on gait adaptation in healthy participants. Preliminary data based upon 31 healthy individuals was broken down into young, middle, and older age groups. All participants performed a novel split-belt paradigm either within a Virtual Reality (VR) environment providing optic flow or within a static environment (nonVR). First, all participants learned regardless of whether they completed the paradigm within the VR or nonVR environment. Second, significant group differences were found to exist within the nonVR condition for the temporal measure of stance time (F=6.238; p=0.0140) suggesting the middle-age group employed a different strategy for timing foot placement. This may signify that middle-aged participants make larger adjustment as they learn due to perception of age-related alterations in gait. On the other hand, the older group has learned to respond to these age-related alterations in gait and exploration is lessened. Finally, the significant group difference found for stance time during the nonVR condition dissipated when VR was added (F=.257; p=0.777). This proposes the addition of optic flow removed the effect of age. These results suggest the addition of visually perceived motion helped aid in the response to age related gait alterations in learning a novel gait task.
The Addition of Optic Flow Lessens Age Related Differences During Gait Adaptation
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Research has shown that multiple components of locomotion in healthy populations differ when stratified by age. While these studies indicate differences between healthy young and older populations, it is currently unclear at what age such decrements begin to have a significant impact. Therefore, the purpose of this ongoing study is to determine the effect of age on gait adaptation in healthy participants. Preliminary data based upon 31 healthy individuals was broken down into young, middle, and older age groups. All participants performed a novel split-belt paradigm either within a Virtual Reality (VR) environment providing optic flow or within a static environment (nonVR). First, all participants learned regardless of whether they completed the paradigm within the VR or nonVR environment. Second, significant group differences were found to exist within the nonVR condition for the temporal measure of stance time (F=6.238; p=0.0140) suggesting the middle-age group employed a different strategy for timing foot placement. This may signify that middle-aged participants make larger adjustment as they learn due to perception of age-related alterations in gait. On the other hand, the older group has learned to respond to these age-related alterations in gait and exploration is lessened. Finally, the significant group difference found for stance time during the nonVR condition dissipated when VR was added (F=.257; p=0.777). This proposes the addition of optic flow removed the effect of age. These results suggest the addition of visually perceived motion helped aid in the response to age related gait alterations in learning a novel gait task.