Within-session adaptation and reliability of test of reactive stepping in response to external postural perturbations

• Grant number: 15/08420-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Karina Gramani Say
• Grantee: Ana Julia de Lima Bomfim
• Supervisor: Avril Mansfield
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University Health Network (UHN), Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/15869-5 - Assessment of balance and functionality elderly after a fall prevention program for Primary Care, BP.IC

Abstract

Falls are a major concern for older adults in general, and even greater in certain clinical populations, such as individuals with stroke. Falls may result in a downward cycle of disuse and deconditioning, as well as emotional and mental consequences, such as depression and fear of falling. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to quantify within-session changes in reactive balance control measures as a function of the number of trials. The proposed study will involve secondary analysis of data collected as part of a larger study that aims to determine if 'perturbation training' can prevent falls among individuals with stroke. Participant's in this study will be community-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke (>6 months post-stroke) who are e50 years of age and will be recruited as part of a larger study examining the effects of perturbation training on falls, balance confidence, activity restriction, functional balance and mobility, and reactive balance control. Perturbations will be administered through the lean-and-release method and a 2 degree-of-freedom motion platform. For the motion platform trials, muscle activation will be measured using 8 electromyography (EMG) electrodes bilaterally, on the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris. Participants, three-dimensional whole-body motion will be tracked using a seven-camera Vicon motion capture system and a full body marker set consisting of approximately 70 markers. Therefore ,the results of this study will enable us to establish protocols for reliable assessment of reactive balance control in clinical and research settings among individuals with stroke. (AU)