Biomechanical risks during simulated street crossing in older adults

Abstract

Aging process is related to motor and sensorial changes that could compromise the ability to perform complex motor tasks and are associated to a high incidence of falls in older adults. Thus, daily activities challenges during walking, could represent a potential risk to fall for old population. Cross the street with security is specially hard to old adults, because the sensorial-motor changes related to aging, could occur an increase for the risk of falls. When pedestrians, especially old adults, cross the street at the same time they perform other motor and cognitive tasks, which increase the risk to accidents. In line of this, the Elder Pedestrian Advisory Group of Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA, recently created the project "Safe Steps", which aim to educate and public awareness to prevent injuries and death in old adults pedestrians. The objective of this study will be to analyze the influence of functional dual tasks during walking and during simulation of crossing a street in biomechanical indicators of risk of falls in older adults. Thirty two volunteers separated in two groups: young group and older group will participate of this study. The data collect will be performed at Physical Therapy Human Performance Laboratory from the Department of Physical Therapy of Florida International University and all the assessment procedures will occur in two days. In the first day will be performed the walking familiarization in the following conditions: walking at preferred speed and walking during crossing street simulation. In the second day will performed the assessment of walking at preferred speed and walking during crossing street simulation with the implementation of functional dual tasks. Electromyographic, kinematic and dynamometric variables will be analyzed during all walking conditions. Statistical analysis will be performed with the normality and homogeneity verification and, posteriorly, will be adopted the appropriate test to compare the variables. For all statistical analysis the significant level will be set at p < 0,05. (AU)