Analysis of human coordination patterns between a younger and older age group during the timed up and go test

An experimental study was performed to understand lower limb movement patterns between older and young adults, and to explore a new metric of coordination. Lower limb and torso movement in an older and younger population was captured using both IMU sensors and an optical tracking system. Only data from the optical method was processed and analyzed for this thesis. The participants executed several trials of a Timed-Up-and-Go test (TUGT), a 10 meter Walk Test (10MWT), and a Standing Balance Test (SBT). This paper specifically analyzed data from seven of the participants when executing the TUG test. The Relative Coordination Metric (RCM) from Hip to Knee and from Knee to Ankle was briefly explored for one subject from each age group. Several qualitative differences in motion were seen between the younger subject and the older subject for the Hip-Knee RCM, while similarities were identified for the Knee-Ankle RCM. The TUG time for the younger age group (M = 11.48s, SD = 1.26s) and the older age group (M = 12.06s, SD = 0.69s) was also compared and it was found that they were significantly different (t =1.998, p = 0.017).

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Barillas, Danielle (Danielle Celeste)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leia Stirling.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/112568

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/112568