Proposal of a device for evaluating postural control ability using CoP tracking task in the anteroposterior direction in elderly adults

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26560300
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: NIIZEKI KYUICHI 山形大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 教授 (00228123)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 足圧中心 / 位相同期 / 加齢 / 足関節角度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The accuracy of targeted center of foot pressure (CoP) movement in anteroposterior (AP) direction was evaluated in young and elderly adults to determine whether the phase coupling between the CoP and target is predictive of age-related changes in postural control ability. Subjects tracked target displacement at a frequency of either 15, 10, or 7.5 cycle/min. The analytical signals of CoP and target were obtained by Hilbert transform, and the degree of the phase synchronization (λ) and the amplitude of the CoP (G) were quantified. The mean values ofλ and G decreased in elderly and their coefficient variations (CVs) were greater than those in young adults, suggesting that the ability to accurately perform CoP tracking deteriorates in elderly. We proposed a linear function that discriminate between young and elderly adults by using λ, G, and their CVs. The phase synchronization analysis during AP-CoP tracking task appears to be a tool to assess age-related AP balance ability.

Free Research Field

生体生理工学