Virginia Tech
Maximum Absolute and Relative Joint Torques during Recovery from a Simulated Trip
Abstract
dc:description.abstractPrevious studies have shown that obesity negatively affects balance during quiet standing, yet little is known about its effect on the ability to recover after a postural perturbation. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects of obesity on single-step balance recovery from an incipient forward fall. Eight obese (BMI = 33.2 ± 2.4) and eight non-obese (BMI = 24.8 ± 1.8) participants were released from a static forward lean and asked to recover their balance with a single step. Lean angle was progressively increased until they could no longer recover balance with a single step. Peak joint torques and relative effort during balance recovery were calculated and compared across the groups. Obese participants achieved a smaller maximum lean angle compared to non-obese participants. During balance recovery, obese participants exhibited higher ankle plantar flexor torques and relative effort. Trends also suggested higher relative hip extensor effort in the obese. Obese adults exhibited a poorer ability to recover from a forward fall with a single step. In addition, obese adults used a higher percentage of their total hip and ankle strength compared to non-obese adults during balance recovery. This suggests that the poorer ability of recovering from a forward fall in the obese may be related to increased exertion levels during balance recovery.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2008
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Whitley, Michael James
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Madigan, Michael L.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Davy, Kevin P.
- Nussbaum, Maury A.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-06232008-162913
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33710