Walking Backward Could be Step Forward for Elderly
Study by Biomechanics Graduate Students Exploring Retrolocomotion as a Cost-Effective Means to Improve Stability and Prevent Falls
With more than one-third of Americans 65 and older experiencing a fall each year, a team of UNLV graduate student researchers is investigating strategies to improve stability and minimize injuries.
Biomechanics master's students Jennifer Aldridge and Geoffrey Melcher are using the resources of the UNLV Sports Injury Research Center to explore the effects of backward walking (retrolocomotion) in older adults.
Balance and Confidence
While retrolocomotion has been studied in young, healthy subjects, its use as a rehabilitation strategy in elderly subjects has not. Researchers believe it may improve balance, awareness, and overall walking confidence.
"Falling is the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization and death in the elderly population today," Aldridge said. "Retrolocomotion may be a simple and cost-effective way for older adults to maintain functional stability and keep up an active and healthy lifestyle."
Walking Study
During the one-year study, a sample group of healthy adults between the ages of 60 and 80 will engage in tri-weekly walking sessions for four weeks. Participants are randomly assigned into either a forward or backward walking group and undergo balance testing before, during, and after the study. Researchers test for improvement in stability, changes in range of motion, and walking velocity in both groups.
Many factors contribute to fall injuries in older adults, including declining:
- muscle strength
- balance
- flexibility and range of motion
- visual acuity and awareness
With annual costs due to fall injuries estimated to exceed $43 billion by 2020, an effective intervention strategy could improve quality of life in individuals and reduce demand on the health care system.
Funding
The study is funded in part through an equipment grant, which the team received as one of nine winners of the Bertec Balance Research Competition. Kinesiology professor Janet Dufek is supervising the project.
Related Information
UNLV Kinesiology Department
Janet Dufek
Las Vegas Review-Journal article
