Clinical Interventions in Aging (Feb 2015)

Kinematic analysis of motor strategies in frail aged adults during the Timed Up and Go: how to spot the motor frailty?

  • Hassani A,
  • Kubicki A,
  • Brost V,
  • Mourey F,
  • Yang F

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 10
pp. 505 – 513

Abstract

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Asma Hassani,1 Alexandre Kubicki,2,3 Vincent Brost,1 France Mourey,2,4 Fan Yang1 1Laboratoire LE2I CNRS 6306, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France; 2Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Cognition Action et Plasticité Sensori-Motrice, Campus Universitaire, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France; 3Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Hôpital de Champmaillot, Dijon, France; 4Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France Objective: The purpose of this work was to analyze and compare the movement kinematics of sit-to-stand (STS) and back-to-sit (BTS) transfers between frail aged adults and young subjects, as well as to determine the relationship between kinematic changes and functional capacities. Methods: We analyzed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) movements by using a 3D movement analysis system for real-time balance assessment in frail elderly. Ten frail aged adults (frail group [FG]) and ten young subjects (young group [YG]) performed the TUG. Seven spatiotemporal parameters were extracted and compared between the two groups. Moreover, these parameters were plotted with TUG test duration. Results: The experiments revealed that there were significant differences between FG and YG in trunk angle during both STS and BTS, and in TUG duration. The trunk angle of the young subjects was more than two times higher than that of the FG. As expected, the TUG duration was higher in the FG than in YG. Trunk angles during both transfers were the most different parameters between the groups. However, the BTS trunk angle and STS ratio were more linked to functional capacities. Conclusion: There was a relationship between kinematic changes, representing the motor planning strategies, and physical frailty in these aged adults. These changes should be taken into account in clinical practice. Keywords: aging, Timed Up and Go test, kinematics, frailty effects

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