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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Age-associated differences in motor output variability and coordination during the simultaneous dorsiflexion of both feet

Full text
Author(s):
Marchini, Amanda ; Pereira, Rafael ; Pedroso, Wellington ; Christou, Evangelos ; Pinto Neto, Osmar
Total Authors: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: SOMATOSENSORY AND MOTOR RESEARCH; v. 34, n. 2, p. 96-101, 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 2
Abstract

Older adults are more variable than young adults on tasks that demand the simultaneous control of more than one effector, and the difference between age groups may be related to their different capacity of coordinating the force output of the involved effectors. The goal of this study was to determine whether age-associated differences in motor output variability during tasks involving the simultaneous dorsiflexion of two feet can be partially explained by differences in coordination and possibly attenuated by physical training. Ten young and 22 old adults (10 trained and 12 untrained old adults) volunteered to participate in the study. Trained older adults had experience in a high-intensity mixed modality training (MMT) regime for a minimum of 1year. Volunteers performed successive trials of a constant force task and a goal-directed task, with and without visual feedback. Within- and between-trial variability were calculated and coordination was quantified using the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) approach (i.e., co-variation of the force outputs of both feet were used to quantify a motor synergy index). Older adults exhibited greater variability and lower synergy (p<.05), independently of physical training status, than young adults. Removal of visual feedback caused greater variability and lower synergy for all groups (p<.05). Our results suggest that older adults exhibit greater motor output variability in tasks involving the simultaneous dorsiflexion of both feet possibly due to a lack of coordination between the feet. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/09400-9 - The effects of different exercise programs on postural control of older adults
Grantee:Osmar Pinto Neto
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants