2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Fall prediction judging from the frequency of 'non-MTC gait cycle'
Project/Area Number |
19K19927
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Review Section |
Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
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Research Institution | Kinjo University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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Keywords | 歩行 / つまずき / 地域在住高齢者 / 二重課題 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
We measured the swing toe trajectory and changes in blood flow in the forehead, which reflects brain activity in the frontal lobe, in community-dwelling older people while they were simultaneously performing cognitive tasks and walking. Upon comparing young adults with the older people, (1) no difference was observed in the 3-minute walk distance; (2) the older people more often swung their legs with the toes lifted higher, and (3) blood flow in the forehead changed more in the older people. These results suggest that even those older people who were living independently in the community walked carefully so as to not fall while they were simultaneously performing cognitive tasks. Thus, an increased frequency of non-minimum toe clearance (nMTC) gait cycles may be a sign of an increased risk of falling in the future due to a reduced ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
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Free Research Field |
理学療法学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
歩幅や歩行速度の低下は転倒のリスク指標であることはよく知られているが,これらは主に虚弱な高齢者に該当するパラメーターである.心身機能が維持された「元気」な高齢者では,歩幅や歩行速度といった数値(量)よりも,歩き方といった質的な変化から転倒を予測できるのではないかと考えている.元来,歩行は無意識的な動作であるが,認知課題を付加することによってつま先を高く挙げて歩くnMTCの頻度が増えるということは,つまずかないように足を持ち上げ,「気をつけて」歩いていることを表すサインであるととらえられる.このサインは現実の生活において,転倒リスクが高まっていることを示唆する所見かも知れない.
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