Age-differences in dynamic balance quantified by beam walking distance

• Project/Area Number: 16K21320
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Sports science; Applied health science
• Research Institution: Dokkyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: UEMATSU AZUSA 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (60613453)
• Research Collaborator: TSUCHIYA kazushi ; TANAKA kouya
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
• Keywords: 加齢 / 動的バランス / 歩行 / 高齢者 / バランス能力 / トレーニング / トレーニング科学 / 神経生理学 / バイオメカニクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined old adults’ dynamic balance while walking using beam walking distance. Old vs. young adults decreased walking distance on beam width narrower than 8cm and cognitive dual-tasking (performing a calculation task while beam walking) augmented these age-differences. Further, balance training for 8 weeks improved old adults’ beam walking distance with cognitive task. This study showed that 1) beam width narrower than 8cm will be suitable for evaluating old adults’ dynamic balance while walking, 2) cognitive dual-tasking augments age-differences in beam walking distance, and 3) balance training intervention can improve old adults’ dynamic balance while walking with cognitive dual-tasking.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで，高齢者の歩行バランス能力を直接的かつ簡便に評価する方法がなかった．本研究は，簡単に設置できる狭路上での歩行到達距離という指標を用いて，8cm以下の狭路幅で高齢者の歩行バランス能力を評価できる可能性を示した．また，高齢者の狭路歩行の到達距離が計算課題の付加によって短くなることから，認知課題が高齢者の歩行バランス能力を低下させることが示された．そして，バランストレーニングによって認知課題中の高齢者の歩行バランス能力が向上することが明らかになった．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Beam Walking to Assess Dynamic Balance in Health and Disease: A Protocol for the “BEAM” Multicenter Observational Study (2018)
  • Author(s): Hortobagyi Tibor、Uematsu Azusa、Sanders Lianne、Kliegl Reinhold、Toll?r J?zsef、Moraes Renato、Granacher Urs
  • Journal Title: Gerontology Volume: Oct Issue: 4 Pages: 1-8
  • DOI: 10.1159/000493360
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Cognitive dual-tasking augments age-differences in dynamic balance quantified by beam walking distance: A pilot study (2018)
  • Author(s): Uematsu Azusa、Tsuchiya Kazushi、Suzuki Shuji、Hortobagyi Tibor
  • Journal Title: Experimental Gerontology Volume: 114 Pages: 27-31
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.10.016
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Lower extremity power training improves healthy old adults’ gait biomechanics. (2018)
  • Author(s): Uematsu A, Hortobagyi T, Tsuchiya K, Kadono N, Kobayashi H, Ogawa T, Suzuki S
  • Journal Title: Gait & Posture Volume: 62 Pages: 303-310
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.03.036
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Cognitive dual-tasking augments age-differences in dynamic balance while walking on a narrow beam (2018)
  • Author(s): Uematsu Azusa, Tsuchiya Kazushi, Yokei Hajime, Suzuki Shuji, Hortobagyi Tibor
  • Organizer: 65th ACSM Annual Meeting
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Cognitive dual-tasking augments age-differences in dynamic balance while walking on a narrow beam. (2018)
  • Author(s): Uematsu A, Tsuchiya K, Yokei H, Suzuki S, Hortobagyi T
  • Organizer: 65th ACSM Annual Meeting
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Changes in healthy old adults’ gait biomechanics following short-term lower extremity power training. (2017)
  • Author(s): Uematsu A, Hortobagyi T, Tsuchiya K, Kadono N, Kobayashi H, Ogawa T, Suzuki S
  • Organizer: 64th ACSM Annual Meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Denver, Colorado, USA
  • Year and Date: 2017-05-30
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Qigong exercise improves Japanese old adults’ quality of life. (2016)
  • Author(s): Suzuki S, Uematsu A, Shimazaki T, Kobayashi H, Nakamura M, Hortobagyi T
  • Organizer: 63th ACSM Annual Meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-31
  • Int'l Joint Research