Loading...
Age and limb effects on sit-to-stand ground reaction forces
Kazi, Sabrina Miller, Michael F. Silverman, Anne K.
Kazi, Sabrina
Miller, Michael F.
Silverman, Anne K.
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisor
Editor
Date
Date Issued
2025-04
Date Submitted
Keywords
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Embargo Expires
Abstract
The sit-to-stand (STS) movement is an important activity of daily living, but it can be a challenge for older adults. Examining vertical ground reaction forces (VGRFs) between limbs and across the lifespan can provide an understanding of task mechanics. Fourteen younger and fourteen older participants completed three STS trials. Vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) was normalized to body weight and integrated over time to determine impulse. We compared peak VGRFs, impulses, and completion time between age groups with an unpaired t-test (α=0.05), and between limbs with a paired t-test (α=0.05). Variability in VGRF peak and impulse was compared across groups and limbs using an F-test (α=0.05). Completion time was defined as the instant when VGRF on the foot increased 5% from the seated value until the local VGRF minimum prior to static standing. STS completion time was not different between the younger (1.601±0.284s) and older groups (1.686±0.258s). Healthy adults generally had symmetric VGRFs across the lifespan, with two exceptions. Peak VGRF (p=0.028) and vertical impulse (p=0.002) were greater on the dominant limb for younger adults. Variance in impulse was not different between groups on the dominant limb but was greater in older adults on the non-dominant limb (p=0.039). This variance may explain why differences between limbs were not observed in older adults. Overall, few differences were observed between limbs and across groups, suggesting that these healthy participant groups were effective at completing this submaximal task. Peak VGRFs and impulse variability can provide insight into movement strategies during STS with aging.
Associated Publications
Rights
Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.