Stepping characteristics and Centre of Mass control during stair descent: Effects of age, fall risk and visual factors

Stair edges provide important visual cues for appropriate foot placement on the stair and balance control during stair descent. Previous studies explored age-related changes in stepping performance and balance control during stair descent and included fit older adults. The present study investigates both age- and frailty-related changes to stepping parameters and Centre of Mass (COM) control during stair descent and how these measures are affected by visual factors. Older adults were split into two groups containing participants with the lowest (LROA, n = 7) and highest (HROA, n = 8) combined scores on tests of balance and confidence to negotiate stairs. Data were also collected from younger adult participants (YA, n = 8). Kinematic data were collected from participants while they descended stairs under combinations of ambient light (bright and dimmed) and stair edge contrast conditions (high and low). A three (group) x two (illumination) x two (contrast) ANCOVA was performed with average stair walking speed as covariate. HROA cleared the stair edge vertically (p = 0.001) and horizontally (p <0.001) with less distance than LROA. Dimmed ambient light resulted in decreased step length in HROA (p = 0.006) compared to bright lighting. High stair edge contrast led to reduced vertical COM acceleration variability in HROA (p = 0.009) and increased distance between COM and anterior base of support (p = 0.017) in LROA. YA increased horizontal foot clearance (p = 0.011) when stair edge contrast was high. We conclude that the aforementioned differences in stepping behaviour shown by HROA may contribute towards an increased risk of tripping and that high stair edge contrast has a beneficial effect on balance control in older adults. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.