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Role of Knee and Ankle Extensors’ Muscle-Tendon Properties in Dynamic Balance Recovery from a Simulated Slip

Lookup NU author(s): Heloise DebelleORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Participants exposed to a simulated slip with forward loss of balance (FLB) develop large lower limb joint moments which may be a limiting factor for those whose muscle-tendon units’ (MTUs) properties are deteriorated. Whether the age-related decline in these properties limits participants’ capacity to recover their balance following a slip with FLB remains unclear. We combined isokinetic dynamometry, ultrasound and EMG to understand how knee extensor and ankle plantarflexor muscle strength and power, rate of moment development, electromechanical delay, and tendon stiffness affected the balance of young (25.3 ± 3.9 years) and older adults (62.8 ± 7.1 years) when recovering from a single slip with FLB triggered whilst walking on a split-belt instrumented treadmill. Except for the patellar tendon’s stiffness, knee extensor and ankle plantarflexor electromechanical delays, older adults’ MTUs properties were deteriorated compared to those of young participants (p < 0.05). We found no significant relationship between age or the MTUs properties of participants and balance recovery. These findings provide additional support that neither maximal nor explosive strength training are likely to be successful in preventing a fall for healthy older adults, and that other type of interventions, such as task-specific training that has already proved efficacious in reducing the risk of falling, should be developed.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Debelle H, Maganaris CN, O'Brien TD

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Sensors

Year: 2022

Volume: 22

Issue: 9

Online publication date: 03/05/2022

Acceptance date: 29/04/2022

Date deposited: 21/09/2022

ISSN (electronic): 1424-8220

Publisher: MDPI

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22093483

DOI: 10.3390/s22093483

PubMed id: 35591172


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