The presence of a second obstacle in the obstacle avoidance task changes the locomotor pattern of older adults at lower and higher risk of falling

Gabriela V. Magalhães; Maria E. M. Correa; Juliana A. Silva; Milena Razuk; Natalia M. Rinaldi

doi:10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.446

The presence of a second obstacle in the obstacle avoidance task changes the locomotor pattern of older adults at lower and higher risk of falling

Authors

Gabriela V. Magalhães Biomechanical Analysis of Movement Laboratory (Bio.Mov), Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil - gabivigorito@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8367-266X
Maria E. M. Correa Biomechanical Analysis of Movement Laboratory (Bio.Mov), Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3021-5494
Juliana A. Silva Biomechanical Analysis of Movement Laboratory (Bio.Mov), Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5250-2470
Milena Razuk Biomechanical Analysis of Movement Laboratory (Bio.Mov), Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-7624
Natalia M. Rinaldi Biomechanical Analysis of Movement Laboratory (Bio.Mov), Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6125-3843

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.446

Keywords:

Older adult, Risk of falling, Obstacle avoidance, Double obstacle

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The literature does not fully explain how the sequenced addition of a second obstacle during walking influences the avoidance task in older adults at lower and higher risk of falling.

AIM: The objective was investigating the locomotor performance of older adults at higher and lower risk of falling during sequenced obstacles avoidance with different physical characteristics.

METHODS: 10 older adults at higher risk of falling and 11 older adults at lower risk of falling participated in this study and performed the following tasks: 1) single obstacle avoidance and 2) double obstacle avoidance. For both conditions, the physical characteristics of the obstacles were manipulated: solid (a single piece of foam) and fragile (foam blocks stacked) obstacles were used.

RESULTS: Older adults at higher risk of falling, when compared to older adults at lower risk of falling, showed longer right stride duration (1.261s | 1.030s, respectively; p≤0.001), longer left stride duration (1.409s | 1.073s, p≤0.001), and lower left stride velocity (0.866 cm/s | 1.130 cm/s, p=0.013). They also showed a longer avoidance time (0.772s | 0.635s, p=0.009), and lower toe clearance (0.327 cm | 0.380 cm, p=0.037) and obstacle-heel horizontal distance (0.651 cm | 0.798 cm, p=0.025).

INTERPRETATION: Older adults at higher risk of falling showed changes in locomotor pattern when avoidance obstacles when they were subjected to a more challenging task. These results enable the development of targeted approaches for the rehabilitation of older adults at higher risk of falling and for the prevention of falls.

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Published

2025-05-14

How to Cite

Magalhães, G. V., Correa, M. E. M., Silva, J. A., Razuk, M., & Rinaldi, N. M. (2025). The presence of a second obstacle in the obstacle avoidance task changes the locomotor pattern of older adults at lower and higher risk of falling. Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior, 19(1), e446. https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.446

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

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