The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers (전기학회논문지)

The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers (대한전기학회)
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Age Difference in the Cephalad Attenuation of Upper Body Accelerations During Fast Speed Walking

빠른 보행시 상체 가속도의 머리 방향 감쇄의 연령차

  • Jeon, Hyeong-Min (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Kim, Ji-Won (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Kwon, Yu-Ri (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Heo, Jae-Hoon (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Eom, Gwang-Moon (Dept. of Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University)
  • Received : 2015.11.03
  • Accepted : 2015.12.15
  • Published : 2016.02.01
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible age differences in the attenuation of acceleration in the upper body (from pelvis through shoulder to head) during fast walking. Thirty young and 29 elderly subjects participated in this study. Wireless acceleration sensors were attached on head, shoulder, and pelvis. Subjects performed two trials of fast walking on a treadmill, where the fast speed was defined as 1.5 times of the comfortable speed. Root-mean-squared (RMS) accelerations of each axis were compared with age group and sensor position as independent factors. In the AP direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and the shoulder-to-head attenuation was also greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was comparable between age groups (p=0.581). In the ML direction, the pelvis acceleration was greater in the young and also the pelvis-to-shoulder attenuation was greater in the young (p<0.001), so that the head acceleration was greater in the elderly group (p<0.001). Insufficient attenuation ML acceleration in the elderly resulting in the greater acceleration in the head may deteriorate the balance control which utilize feedback signals from the sensory organs in head, e.g., vestibular and visual systems.

Keywords

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