Evaluation for Potential Physical Function Decline in Older Adults by the Gait Indices Derived from Lateral Trunk Motion

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01442
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kobe Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Asai Tsuyoshi 神戸学院大学, 総合リハビリテーション学部, 助教 (50411880)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 安藤 啓司 神戸常盤大学, 保健科学部, 教授 (30144562) ; 福元 喜啓 神戸学院大学, 総合リハビリテーション学部, 助教 (30636121) ; 小野 玲 神戸大学, 保健学研究科, 准教授 (50346243)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 歩行分析 / 二重課題

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Individuals are exposed to repetitive dual-task-like situations in daily life, especially while walking. Thus, understanding how older adults adapt their walking-related motion under dual-task conditions is of clinical importance. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between dual-task-related changes (DT-changes) in lower-limb gait parameters and DT-changes in lower-trunk sway. Participants (older and younger adults) were asked to walk while performing an additional cognitive task, or with no additional task. During walking, lower-limb gait parameters and lower-trunk sway were measured using a photoelectric cell system and inertial sensors. In older adults, DT-changes in the temporal-lower-limb gait parameter stride time variability was mutually associated with DT-changes in lower-trunk sway. In contrast, in younger adults, DT-changes in the spatial-lower-limb gait parameter step width were mutually associated with DT-changes in lower-trunk sway.

Free Research Field

歩行分析