Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Volume 19, Issue 6 , Pages 1085-1091 , December 2009

Differences in lower-extremity muscular activation during walking between healthy older and young adults

  • Anne Schmitz

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • ,
  • Amy Silder

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • ,
  • Bryan Heiderscheit

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • ,
  • Jane Mahoney

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Ave., Suite 106, Madison, WI 53705, USA
    • ,
  • Darryl G. Thelen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3039 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA. Tel.: +1 608 262 1902; fax: +1 608 265 2316.

Received 16 May 2008 ,Revised 5 September 2008 ,Accepted 7 October 2008.

References 

  1. Basmajian JVe. Biofeedback: principles and practice for clinicians. 3rd ed.; 1989.
  2. Benjuya N, Melzer I, Kaplanski J. Aging-induced shifts from a reliance on sensory input to muscle cocontraction during balanced standing. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004;59A(2):166–171
  3. Cappozzo A, Catani F, Croce UD, Leardini A. Position and orientation in space of bones during movement: anatomical frame definition and determination. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 1995;10(4):171–178
  4. DeVita P, Hortobagyi T. Age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers during gait. J Appl Physiol. 2000;88(5):1804–1811
  5. Folstein M, Folstein S, McHugh P. Mini-mental state: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiat Res. 1975;12(3):189–198
  6. Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Lutz KJ, Evans WJ. A cross-sectional study of muscle strength and mass in 45- to 78-yr-old men and women. J Appl Physiol. 1991;71(2):644–650
  7. Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Fielding RA, Fiatarone MA, Evans WJ, Roubenoff R. Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study. J Appl Physiol. 2000;88(4):1321–1326
  8. Hortobagyi T, DeVita P. Mechanisms responsible for the age-associated increase in coactivation of antagonist muscles. Exercise Sport Sci Rev. 2006;34(1):29–35
  9. Huang RP, Rubin CT, McLeod KJ. Changes in postural muscle dynamics as a function of age. J Gerontol. 1999;54A(8):B352–B357
  10. Judge JO, Davis R, Ounpuu S. Step length reductions in advanced age: the role of ankle and hip kinetics. J Gerontol Med Sci. 1996;51(6):M303–M312
  11. Kang H, Dingwell J. Separating the effects of age and walking speed on gait variability. Gait Posture. 2008;27(4):572–577
  12. Kerrigan DC, Todd MK, Della Croce U, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Biomechanical gait alterations independent of speed in the healthy elderly: evidence for specific limiting impairments. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 1998;79(3):317–322
  13. Konrad P. The ABC of EMG: a practical introduction to kinesiological electromyography. Scottsdale, AZ; 2005.
  14. Lexell J. Human aging, muscle mass, and fiber type composition. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995;50A(Spec):11–17
  15. Luff AR. Age-associated changes in the innervation of muscle fibers and changes in the mechanical properties of motor unites. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1998;854:92–101
  16. Manchester D, Woollacott MH, Zederbauer-Hylton N, Marin O. Visual, vestibular, and somatosensory contributions to balance control in the older adult. J Gerontol. 1989;44(4):M118–M127
  17. McGibbon CA. Toward a better understanding of gait changes with age and disablement: neuromuscular adaptation. Exercise Sport Sci Rev. 2003;31(2):102–108
  18. McGibbon CA, Krebs DE. Effects of age and functional limitation on leg joint power and work during stance phase of gait. J Rehab Res Dev. 1999;36(3):173–182
  19. McGibbon CA, Krebs DE. Discriminating age and disability effects in locomotion: neuromuscular adaptations in musculoskeletal pathology. J Appl Physiol. 2004;96(1):149–160
  20. Mian OS, Thom JM, Ardigo LP, Narici MV, Minetti AE. Metabolic cost, mechanical work, and efficiency during walking in young and older men. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2006;186(2):127–139
  21. Neptune RR, Kautz SA, Zajac FE. Contributions of the individual ankle plantar flexors to support, forward progression and swing initiation during walking. J Biomech. 2001;34(11):1387–1398
  22. Patten C, Kamen G. Adaptations in motor unit discharge activity with force control training in young and older human adults. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;83(2):128–143
  23. Perry J. Gait analysis: normal and pathological function; 1992.
  24. Proctor DN, Balagopal P, Nair KS. Age-related sarcopenia in humans is associated with reduced synthetic rates of specific muscle proteins. J Nutr. 1998;128(2):351S–355S
  25. Silder A, Heiderscheit B, Thelen DG. Active and passive contributions to joint kinetics during walking in older adults. J Biomech. 2008;41(7):1520–1527
  26. Stewart AL, Mills KM, King AC, Haskell WL, Gillis D, Ritter PL. CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire for older adults: outcomes for interventions. Med Sci Sports Exercise. 2001;33(7):1126–1141
  27. Stewart C, Postans N, Schwartz MH, Rozumalski A, Roberts A. An exploration of the function of the triceps surae during normal gait using functional electrical stimulation. Gait Posture. 2007;26(4):482–488
  28. Visser M, Kritchevsky SB, Goodpaster BH, Newman AB, Nevitt M, Stamm E, et al. Leg muscle mass and composition in relation to lower extremity performance in men and women aged 70–79: the health, aging and body composition study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50(5):897–904
  29. Whitney SL, Hudak MT, Marchetti GF. The dynamic gait index relates to self-reported fall history in individuals with vestibular dysfunction. J Vestibul Res. 2000;10(2):99–105
  30. Whittington B, Silder A, Heiderscheit B, Thelen DG. The contribution of passive-elastic mechanisms to lower extremity joint kinetics during human walking. Gait Posture. 2008;27(4):628–634
  31. Winter DA. The biomechanics and motor control of human gait: normal, elderly and pathological. 2nd ed.; 1991.
  32. Winter D, Patla A, Frank J, Walt S. Biomechanical walking pattern changes in the fit and healthy elderly. Phys Ther. 1990;70(6):340–347

PII: S1050-6411(08)00163-6

doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.10.008

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Volume 19, Issue 6 , Pages 1085-1091 , December 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution