Aging Effects of Motor Prediction on Protective Balance and Startle Responses to Sudden Drop Perturbations

Overview

Journal J Biomech

Specialty Physiology

Date 2019 May 27

PMID 31128842

Citations 4

Authors

Ozell Sanders

Hao-Yuan Hsiao

Douglas N Savin

Robert A Creath

Mark W Rogers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This pilot study investigated the effect of age on the ability of motor prediction during self-triggered drop perturbations (SLF) to modulate startle-like first trial response (FTR) magnitude during externally-triggered (EXT) drop perturbations. Ten healthy older (71.4 ± 1.44 years) and younger adults (26.2 ± 1.63 years) stood atop a moveable platform and received blocks of twelve consecutive EXT and SLF drop perturbations. Following the last SLF trial, participants received an additional EXT trial spaced 20 min apart to assess retention (EXT RTN) of any modulation effects. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded bilaterally over the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and tibialis anterior (TA). Whole-body kinematics and kinetic data were recorded. Stability in the antero-posterior direction was quantified using the margin of stability (MoS). Compared with EXT trials, both groups reduced SCM peak amplitude responses during SLF and EXT RTN trials. VL/BF and TA/MG coactivation were reduced during SLF FTR compared to EXT FTR (p < 0.05) with reduced peak vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) in both younger and older adults (p < 0.05). Older adults increased their MoS during SLF FTR compared to EXT FTR (p < 0.05). Both groups performed more eccentric work during SLF trials compared to EXT (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that abnormal startle effects with aging may interfere with balance recovery and increase risk of injury with external balance perturbations. Motor prediction may be used to acutely mitigate abnormal startle/postural responses with aging.

Citing Articles

A method for simulating forward falls and controlling impact velocity.

Borrelli J, Creath R, Rogers M MethodsX. 2023; 11:102399.

PMID: 37830002 PMC: 10565865. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102399.

The timing and amplitude of the muscular activity of the arms preceding impact in a forward fall is modulated with fall velocity.

Borrelli J, Creath R, Rogers M J Biomech. 2023; 150:111515.

PMID: 36867953 PMC: 10257944. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111515.

Test-retest reliability of the FALL FIT system for assessing and training protective arm reactions in response to a forward fall.

Borrelli J, Creath R, Westlake K, Rogers M MethodsX. 2022; 9:101702.

PMID: 35518921 PMC: 9062354. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2022.101702.

Protective arm movements are modulated with fall height.

Borrelli J, Creath R, Rogers M J Biomech. 2020; 99:109569.

PMID: 31898976 PMC: 7054927. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.109569.

References

Lafortune M, Lake M, Hennig E . Differential shock transmission response of the human body to impact severity and lower limb posture. J Biomech. 1996; 29(12):1531-7. View

Torry M, Decker M, Ellis H, Shelburne K, Sterett W, Steadman J . Mechanisms of compensating for anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during gait. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36(8):1403-12. DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000135797.09291.71. View

MacKinnon C, Bissig D, Chiusano J, Miller E, Rudnick L, Jager C . Preparation of anticipatory postural adjustments prior to stepping. J Neurophysiol. 2007; 97(6):4368-79. DOI: 10.1152/jn.01136.2006. View

DeVita P, Skelly W . Effect of landing stiffness on joint kinetics and energetics in the lower extremity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992; 24(1):108-15. View

Mang D, Siegmund G, Inglis J, Blouin J . The startle response during whiplash: a protective or harmful response?. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2012; 113(4):532-40. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00100.2012. View

Rogers M, Kennedy R, Palmer S, Pawar M, Reising M, Martinez K . Postural preparation prior to stepping in patients with Parkinson's disease. J Neurophysiol. 2011; 106(2):915-24. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00005.2010. View

Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A, Mademli L . Age-related deficit in dynamic stability control after forward falls is affected by muscle strength and tendon stiffness. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2007; 18(6):980-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2007.04.003. View

Wolpert D, Miall R . Forward Models for Physiological Motor Control. Neural Netw. 1996; 9(8):1265-1279. DOI: 10.1016/s0893-6080(96)00035-4. View

Yeow C, Lee P, Goh J . An investigation of lower extremity energy dissipation strategies during single-leg and double-leg landing based on sagittal and frontal plane biomechanics. Hum Mov Sci. 2011; 30(3):624-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2010.11.010. View

10.

Ludewig K, Ludewig S, Seitz A, Obrist M, Geyer M, Vollenweider F . The acoustic startle reflex and its modulation: effects of age and gender in humans. Biol Psychol. 2003; 63(3):311-23. DOI: 10.1016/s0301-0511(03)00074-7. View

11.

Falconer K, Winter D . Quantitative assessment of co-contraction at the ankle joint in walking. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1985; 25(2-3):135-49. View

12.

Bates N, Ford K, Myer G, Hewett T . Impact differences in ground reaction force and center of mass between the first and second landing phases of a drop vertical jump and their implications for injury risk assessment. J Biomech. 2013; 46(7):1237-41. PMC: 3644482. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.02.024. View

13.

Cavagna G . Force platforms as ergometers. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 39(1):174-9. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1975.39.1.174. View

14.

Riemann B, Schmitz R, Gale M, McCaw S . Effect of ankle taping and bracing on vertical ground reaction forces during drop landings before and after treadmill jogging. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002; 32(12):628-35. DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2002.32.12.628. View

15.

Brown L, Polych M, Doan J . The effect of anxiety on the regulation of upright standing among younger and older adults. Gait Posture. 2006; 24(4):397-405. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2005.04.013. View

16.

Jones G, Watt D . Muscular control of landing from unexpected falls in man. J Physiol. 1971; 219(3):729-37. PMC: 1331656. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009685. View

17.

Allum J, Carpenter M, Honegger F, Adkin A, Bloem B . Age-dependent variations in the directional sensitivity of balance corrections and compensatory arm movements in man. J Physiol. 2002; 542(Pt 2):643-63. PMC: 2290411. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2001.015644. View

18.

Hof A, Gazendam M, Sinke W . The condition for dynamic stability. J Biomech. 2004; 38(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.03.025. View

19.

Butler R, Crowell 3rd H, Davis I . Lower extremity stiffness: implications for performance and injury. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2003; 18(6):511-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0268-0033(03)00071-8. View

20.

Fu S, Hui-Chan C . Modulation of prelanding lower-limb muscle responses in athletes with multiple ankle sprains. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39(10):1774-83. DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181343629. View