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. 2015 Feb 26:10:505-13.
doi: 10.2147/CIA.S74755. eCollection 2015.

Kinematic analysis of motor strategies in frail aged adults during the Timed Up and Go: how to spot the motor frailty?

Asma Hassani  1 , Alexandre Kubicki  2 , Vincent Brost  1 , France Mourey  3 , Fan Yang  1
Affiliations

Kinematic analysis of motor strategies in frail aged adults during the Timed Up and Go: how to spot the motor frailty?

Asma Hassani et al. Clin Interv Aging. .

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this work was to analyze and compare the movement kinematics of sit-to-stand (STS) and back-to-sit (BTS) transfers between frail aged adults and young subjects, as well as to determine the relationship between kinematic changes and functional capacities.

Methods: We analyzed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) movements by using a 3D movement analysis system for real-time balance assessment in frail elderly. Ten frail aged adults (frail group [FG]) and ten young subjects (young group [YG]) performed the TUG. Seven spatiotemporal parameters were extracted and compared between the two groups. Moreover, these parameters were plotted with TUG test duration.

Results: The experiments revealed that there were significant differences between FG and YG in trunk angle during both STS and BTS, and in TUG duration. The trunk angle of the young subjects was more than two times higher than that of the FG. As expected, the TUG duration was higher in the FG than in YG. Trunk angles during both transfers were the most different parameters between the groups. However, the BTS trunk angle and STS ratio were more linked to functional capacities.

Conclusion: There was a relationship between kinematic changes, representing the motor planning strategies, and physical frailty in these aged adults. These changes should be taken into account in clinical practice.

Keywords: Timed Up and Go test; aging; frailty effects; kinematics.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trunk angle calculation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of trunk angle (A and B) and ratio (C and D) values between ten FG and ten YG subjects during STS and BTS. Notes: The red circles represent the three subjects with worrying transfers. The solid line passes through the mean values for each group. Abbreviations: BTS, back-to-sit; FG, frail group; STS, sit-to-stand; YG, young group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of the STS (A), BTS (B), and TUG (C) durations for ten FG and ten YG subjects. Notes: The red circles represent the three subjects with worrying transfers. The solid line passes through the mean for each group. Abbreviations: BTS, back-to-sit; FG, frail group; STS, sit-to-stand; TUG, Timed Up and Go; YG, young group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The distribution of the BTS trunk angles (A) and the STS ratio (B) relative to the TUG duration. Notes: The red circles represent the three subjects with worrying transfers. The solid line denotes the line of best fit. Abbreviations: BTS, back-to-sit; STS, sit-to-stand; TUG, Timed Up and Go; FG, frail group; YG, young group.
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