Publications

Human-Robot Convergence Research Center

Journal

Association between age and body's kinematic responses to unpredictable gait perturbation
Category
International
Author
Dongyual Yoo, Chihyeong Lee, Jooeun Ahn, Beom-Chan Lee
Co-author
Journal
ISBS Proceedings Archive
Status
Published
Vol
41(1)
Page
Year
2023

This study assessed the body’s kinematic responses to unpredictable gait perturbations repeatedly induced by a fall-inducing technology platform in young and older adults. Ten young adults (young group) and ten older adults (older group) completed two trials with the gait perturbation (i.e., trip). Maximum trunk flexion angle, maximum right hip flexion angle, and minimum whole-body center of mass (COM) position quantified the body’s kinematic responses for a pre-trip period and a recovery period. The results showed that both groups significantly increased maximum trunk flexion angle and maximum right hip flexion angle during the recovery period compared to the pre-trip period. The young group showed a significantly decreased minimum COM position during the recovery period compared to the pre-trip period. Our findings can inform perturbation-based gait training in young and older adults to improve the body’s responses for fall reduction and prevention.