Comparison of stepping parameters and center of foot pressure properties during different tempo stepping movements

This study was designed to examine the trial-to-trial reliability of stepping parameters and to compare the center of foot pressure (COP) when adapting to different tempos. Twenty healthy men (M age = 20.8, SD = 1.9 years) performed stepping tests to fixed tempos. The intra-class correlation coefficients of stepping and COP parameters were high (0.75 - 0.97). The time difference between foot contact time and fixed tempo and COP sway velocities of the X- and Y-axis were the largest at 40 beats per minute (bpm). At 60 and 120 bpm tempos, single support and swing times reflecting the stepping strategy correlated significantly with the root mean square and the velocity of the X-axis (r = I0.45 - 0.53I) . Because these step tempos are controlled largely by the automation of stepping, the single support and swing phases appeared to have a constant frequency. On the other hand, a stepping tempo of 40 bpm showed the largest sway velocity of X and Y and the smallest surrounding area mean path length. The above suggests that stepping at 40 bpm induced a larger sway area in relation to total path length and faster COP sway. Hence, it is inferred that the stepping task becomes more difficult at 40 bpm than at 60 and 120 bpm.

Evaluating the effects of open/closed eyes and age-related differences on center of foot pressure sway during stepping at a set tempo

This study aimed to examine the effects of open/ closed eyes and age difference on Center of Foot Pressure (COP) sway during stepping. The subjects were 87 healthy males aged 10 - 80 years. COP was measured 20 times when subjects stepped on two force plates (left and right) at a rate of 60 steps/min. The evaluation parameters selected were: total trace length, velocity, circumference, rectangular area,left-right width, and front-back width. The former four of these parameters were found to be significantly lower with eyes open than eyes closed in 80-year-old subjects, while the last parameter was significantly lower with eyes open in 10-year-old subjects. In 70- and 80-year-old subjects with eyes open, circumference was greater than that in 10- and 40 - 60-year-old subjects;their rectangular area was greater than that in 50- and 60-year-old subjects;and, their front-back width was greater than that in 10- and 30 - 60-year-old subjects. With eyes closed, circumference, rectangular area, left-right width, and front-back width in 80-year- old subjects, were greater than those in 10 - 70- year-old subjects. The front-back width during stepping with eyes closed was greater in 70- and 80-year-old subjects than in 30 - 50-year-old subjects. The Romberg quotient for all COP sway parameters revealed no significant age-related differences. From our findings, a difference in body sway was observed in 80-year-old subjects (with eyes open/closed) when compared with the other age groups. In addition, the extent of sway varied little among 80 year-old- subjects have greater body sway during stepping, particularly with eyes closed.