Class

Article

College

College of Science

Department

English Department

Faculty Mentor

Sara A. Harper

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose a safety concern for adults. To assess individuals’ balance recovery response, we analyzed how individuals stepped on a forward force plate. Multi-joint, lower limb isometric strength may provide additional insight to balance recovery after a forward, unanticipated perturbation. Gender indicates reaction time differences in the time to stabilize, with males more likely to produce greater isometric strength. Our research question was does maximal, isometric strength, and gender predicts the time it takes to stabilize after a perturbation. We hypothesize that maximal, isometric strength and gender would predict the time to stabilize. For testing, we assessed self-reported gender, the lean and release platform was used to test reactive balance responses (e.g., time to stabilize), and the Eccentron device was used to test maximal, isometric strength. A multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the preliminary results.Thirty adults (31.2 ± 12.1 years old; female, n=17 (57%)) completed the investigation. Ourpreliminary results indicate that the predictor variables, gender, and isometric strength, had a moderate correlation with the time to stabilize (R = 0.462). These variables accounted for 21.3% of the variation in time to stabilize with an adjusted R 2 = 15.3%. Time to stabilize is predicted by gender and isometric strength, F (2,26) = 3.521, p = 0.044. These preliminary results may suggest a relationship between gender, isometric strength, and the time it takes to stabilize in balance recovery. Future work should explore the role of isometric strength in the time to stabilize in a balance recovery context for older adults.

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-8-2022 12:00 AM

Included in

Kinesiology Commons

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Apr 8th, 12:00 AM

The Relationship Between Isometric Strength and Time to Stabilize

Logan, UT

Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose a safety concern for adults. To assess individuals’ balance recovery response, we analyzed how individuals stepped on a forward force plate. Multi-joint, lower limb isometric strength may provide additional insight to balance recovery after a forward, unanticipated perturbation. Gender indicates reaction time differences in the time to stabilize, with males more likely to produce greater isometric strength. Our research question was does maximal, isometric strength, and gender predicts the time it takes to stabilize after a perturbation. We hypothesize that maximal, isometric strength and gender would predict the time to stabilize. For testing, we assessed self-reported gender, the lean and release platform was used to test reactive balance responses (e.g., time to stabilize), and the Eccentron device was used to test maximal, isometric strength. A multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the preliminary results.Thirty adults (31.2 ± 12.1 years old; female, n=17 (57%)) completed the investigation. Ourpreliminary results indicate that the predictor variables, gender, and isometric strength, had a moderate correlation with the time to stabilize (R = 0.462). These variables accounted for 21.3% of the variation in time to stabilize with an adjusted R 2 = 15.3%. Time to stabilize is predicted by gender and isometric strength, F (2,26) = 3.521, p = 0.044. These preliminary results may suggest a relationship between gender, isometric strength, and the time it takes to stabilize in balance recovery. Future work should explore the role of isometric strength in the time to stabilize in a balance recovery context for older adults.