Publications

Human-Robot Convergence Research Center

Journal

Age-related adaptation of the body’s kinematic responses to unpredictable trip perturbations induced by a split-belt treadmill
Category
International
Author
Dongyual Yoo, Chihyeong Lee, Jooeun Ahn, Beom-Chan Lee
Co-author
Journal
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology - Proceedings
Status
Published
Vol
Page
Year
2023

This study quantitatively investigated motor adaptations to unpredictable trip perturbations repeatedly induced by a commercially available split-belt treadmill. Using a motion capture system, three outcome measures (i.e., maximum trunk flexion angle, maximum right hip flexion angle, and minimum whole-body center of mass (COM) position) quantified the kinematics of 10 healthy young (YG) and 10 healthy older adult (OG) groups. In each of the five trials, random trip perturbations were induced between the 31st and 40th steps. The three outcome measures were computed for the pre-trip period (from the baseline gait to the five steps before the trip perturbation) and the recovery period (after the trip perturbation to the baseline gait). The results showed that both groups progressively adapted the body's kinematic responses to the repetitive trip perturbations. The findings suggest that our trip-inducing technology may train young and older adults to improve the body's kinematic responses and reduce the risk of falling.