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

Abstract

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).