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

[702275]泰勒：这项研究要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，每年约有三分之一的65岁以上的人摔倒，四分之一的老年摔倒者遭受手腕和髋部骨折等严重伤害。虽然所有人在走路时都会遇到诸如绊倒之类的干扰，但避免跌倒需要一个人感知失去平衡，利用中枢神经系统处理、计划和实施反应，然后由肌肉系统执行动作。这项研究将使用实验和计算机模拟来调查这些系统（感觉、中枢神经或肌肉）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，他们必须迅速迈步以恢复平衡。在这些任务中，力量、肌肉电活动和运动将被记录在电脑上。这些数据将用于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。这些比较将提供一个更好的理解潜在的生理差异，使老年人跌倒的风险。除实验外，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。模拟由人体的数学表示组成，其中输入肌肉电信号并预测由此产生的人体运动。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调整，并确定对步进运动的影响。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（在老年人中经常观察到的特征）如何影响平衡恢复能力。教育计划的主要目标是在理工科强的文理学院加强高质量工程课程的持续发展，为学生直接进入工程研究生院做准备。创新教学技术和研究项目的结合将用于实现这一目标。教育计划的一个重要组成部分是在课堂上使用协作学习。协作学习包括通过广泛的努力使学生积极参与课堂讨论和解决问题，从而使课堂成为一个令人兴奋的学习环境。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，使学生体验智力挑战的兴奋，对工程概念有透彻的理解，并具有创造性地解决实际工程问题的措辞能力。＊＊＊

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. ***