CAREER: Biomechanical Analyses of Balance Recovery During Falls in Young and Old Adults

9702275这项研究解决的问题是确定为什么老年人没有能力阻止他们年轻时可能会阻止的跌倒。据估计，每年65岁以上的人中约有三分之一摔倒，四分之一的老年跌倒者遭受严重伤害，如手腕和髋部骨折。虽然所有人都会在行走时遇到绊倒等干扰，但避免摔倒需要一个人感觉到失去平衡，利用中枢神经系统处理、计划和实施反应，然后通过肌肉系统执行动作。这项研究将使用实验和计算机模拟来研究这些系统(感觉、中枢神经或肌肉)中与年龄相关的变化如何导致老年人的平衡困难。在实验中，年轻人和老年人将从倾斜的姿势中解脱出来，必须快速前进才能恢复平衡。在这些任务中，力、肌肉电活动和运动将被记录在计算机上。这些数据将被用来比较老年人和年轻人的反应时间、肌肉协调性和肌肉力量发展。这些比较将有助于更好地理解导致老年人跌倒风险的潜在生理差异。除了实验，还将进行计算机模拟，以进一步估计生理因素的变化如何影响平衡能力。这些模拟包括人体的数学表示，在其中输入肌肉电信号并预测所产生的人体运动。生理因素，如肌肉力量和反应时间，可以很容易地在计算机模拟中进行调整，并确定对踏步运动的影响。因此，计算机模拟可以用来预测力量的减少和运动速度的减慢(老年人经常观察到的特征)如何影响平衡恢复能力。教育计划的主要目标是促进高质量工程项目的持续发展，在理科实力雄厚的文理学院，为学生直接进入工程研究生院做好准备。将结合创新的教学技术和研究项目来实现这一目标。教育计划的一个重要组成部分是在课堂上使用协作学习。协作学习包括广泛的努力，积极地让学生参与课堂讨论和解决问题，从而使课堂成为一个具有启发性的学习环境。另一个重要的组成部分是通过让本科生参与暑期研究项目来教育和挑战他们。教育计划的最终目标是创造一种氛围，让学生体验智力挑战的兴奋，深入理解工程概念，并具有创造性地解决实际工程问题的文字能力。***

9702275 Thelen The issue addressed in this research is to determine why elderly adults are not capable of arresting a fall that they likely would have arrested when they were young. It is estimated that approximately one-third of persons over 65 fall each year and one-quarter of elderly fallers sustain serious injuries such as wrist and hip fractures. While all humans are bound to encounter disturbances such as trips while walking, avoiding a fall requires one to sense a loss of balance, process, plan and implement a reaction using the central nervous system, and then execute the movements by the muscular system. This study will use both experiments and computer simulations to investigate how age-related changes in these systems (sensory, central nervous or muscular) contribute to balance difficulties in elderly adults. In the experiments, young and elderly adults will be released from a leaning posture and will have to step rapidly to regain balance. Forces, muscle electrical activities and movement will be recorded on a computer during these tasks. These data will be used to compare reaction times, muscle coordination and muscle strength development of old adults with young adults. These comparisons will provide a better understanding of the underlying physiological differences that put older adults at risks for falls. In addition to the experiments, computer simulations will be conducted to further estimate how changes in physiological factors affect balance abilities. The simulations consist of a mathematical representation of the human body in which muscle electrical signals are inputted and the resulting human movement is predicted. Physiologic factors, such as muscle strength and reaction time, can be easily adjusted in the computer simulations and the effects on the stepping movement determined. The computer simulations can thus be used to predict how reductions in strength and slowing of movement speed (traits often observed in elderly) a ffect balance recovery abilities. The primary objective of the education plan is to enhance the continuing development of a quality engineering program, at a science strong liberal arts college, which prepares students for direct entry into engineering graduate school. A combination of innovative instruction techniques and research projects will be used to accomplish this objective. One important component of the education plan is the use of collaborative learning in the classroom. Collaborative learning involves instituting extensive efforts to actively engage students in classroom discussion and problem solving, thus making the classroom a stimulating learning environment. Another important component is the educating and challenging of undergraduate students by involving them in summer research projects. The ultimate goal of the education plan is to create an atmosphere in which students experience the excitement of intellectual challenge, gain a thorough understanding of engineering concepts and have a wording ability to solve real engineering problems creatively. ***