The effects of object height and visual information on the control of obstacle crossing during locomotion in healthy older adults

Is your physical therapist including this complication in your walking protocols? I had nothing higher than a 2x4, I needed a 18-24 inch high barrier to get over, right now that height and higher I regularly have to do on my walks until I can cut thru the trees
http://www.gaitposture.com/article/S0966-6362(17)30139-X/fulltext?rss=yes

Sho KunimuneCorrespondence information about the author Sho KunimuneEmail the author Sho Kunimune

,

Shuichi Okada

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.04.016

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Highlights

• •In familiar settings, feedforward visual control is similar in young/older adults.
• •Older adults exhibit increased dependence on vision for postural stability.
• •LTC and TTC are correlated when crossing obstacles ≤ 10 cm high regardless of age.

Abstract

In order to safely avoid obstacles, humans must rely on visual information regarding the position and shape of the object obtained in advance. The present study aimed to reveal the duration of obstacle visibility necessary for appropriate visuomotor control during obstacle avoidance in healthy older adults. Participants included 13 healthy young women (mean age: 21.5 ± 1.4 years) and 15 healthy older women (mean age: 68.5 ± 3.5 years) who were instructed to cross over an obstacle along a pressure-sensitive pathway at a self-selected pace while wearing liquid crystal shutter goggles. Participants were evaluated during three visual occlusion conditions: (i) full visibility, (ii) occlusion at T-1 step (T: time of obstacle crossing), and (iii) occlusion at T-2 steps. Toe clearances of both the lead and trail limb (LTC and TTC) were calculated. LTC in the occlusion at T-2 steps condition was significantly greater than that in other conditions. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between LTC and TTC in both groups, regardless of the condition or obstacle height. In the older adult group alone, step width in the occlusion at T-2 steps condition increased relative to that in full visibility conditions. The results of the present study suggest that there is no difference in the characteristics of visuomotor control for appropriate obstacle crossing based on age. However, older adults may exhibit increased dependence on visual information for postural stability; they may also need an increased step width when lacking information regarding their positional relationship to obstacles.