The role of anticipatory postural adjustments in balance control of older adults

描述（由申请人提供）：老年人的主要健康问题是平衡恶化，这严重限制了他们的日常生活和社区参与活动。虽然已经研究了该人群使用姿势控制补偿（反馈）机制的能力下降，但老年人使用预期（前馈）姿势调整的情况还没有很好的记录。老年人无法在即将到来的平衡威胁之前（在预期中）最佳地产生姿势调整，可能会使他们处于失去平衡的更大风险中。了解衰老对在随后的姿势控制中利用预期姿势调整的影响需要同时研究这两种机制。最近，PI开发了一种应用外部身体扰动的新方法，使他们能够检查每个姿势控制机制及其相互作用的个体效应。鉴于老年人预期姿势控制的数据不足和新实验技术的可用性，本研究的目的是：1）提供关于老年个体中预期姿势调整的产生的重要基线信息，2）调查老年人中平衡控制的预期和补偿机制之间的相互作用，（3）探讨老年人功能性平衡能力的差异对平衡控制的预期机制和补偿机制之间相互作用的影响。两个具体的目标将在实验中进行测试，涉及老年人（功能稳定和不稳定）和年轻的成年人受到外部扰动，而站。将收集和分析肌电图记录、地面反作用力和运动学数据。目前的康复策略，在老年人不集中在恢复前馈姿势控制，主要是由于不充分的理解的作用，预期的姿势调整平衡控制。这项研究将为一项长期研究计划奠定基础，该计划的重点是重新培训老年人在维持和改善平衡控制方面使用预期调整的能力。 公共卫生相关性：拟议的项目将研究老年人的姿势控制。PI将调查老年人（功能稳定和不稳定）和年轻人在站立时受到外部扰动时预期姿势调整的差异。这项研究的结果对于未来专注于治疗姿势障碍的治疗进展的发展非常重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A primary health concern for aging adults is balance deterioration, which severely limits their activities of daily living and community participation. While a decline in the ability to use compensatory (feedback) mechanisms of postural control have been studied in this population, the utilization of anticipatory (feed forward) postural adjustments in the elderly is not well documented. Inability of older adults to optimally generate postural adjustments prior to (in anticipation of) an upcoming balance threat may put them at a greater risk for losing balance. Understanding the effect of aging on the utilization of anticipatory postural adjustments in subsequent control of posture requires studying the two mechanisms together. Recently, the PIs developed a new method of applying external body perturbations that allows them to examine the individual effects of each mechanism of postural control and their interaction. Given the insufficiency of data on the anticipatory postural control in the elderly and the availability of a novel experimental technique, the objectives of this study are: 1) to provide important baseline information regarding the generation of anticipatory postural adjustments in older individuals, 2) to investigate the interaction between anticipatory and compensatory mechanisms of balance control in older adults, and 3) to examine the effect of differences in functional balance capacity of older adults on the interaction between anticipatory and compensatory mechanisms of balance control. Two specific aims will be tested in experiments involving older (functionally stable and unstable) and young adults subjected to external perturbations while standing. Electromyographic recordings, ground reaction forces, and kinematic data will be collected and analyzed. Current rehabilitation strategies in the elderly are not focused on restoration of feed forward postural control, mainly due to an inadequate understanding of the role of anticipatory postural adjustments in balance control. This study will form the foundation for a longer-term research program centered on retraining the ability of older adults to use anticipatory adjustments in maintenance and improvement of balance control. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed project will study control of posture in the elderly. The PIs will investigate the differences in utilization of anticipatory postural adjustments between older (functionally stable and unstable) and young adults subjected to external perturbations while standing. The outcome of the study is important for the future development of therapeutic advances focused on treatment of postural disorders.