"Análise biomecânica do andar de adultos e idosos nos ambientes aquático e terrestre"

Abstract

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF ADULTS AND ELDERLIES WALKING IN WATER AND ON LAND ENVIRONMENTS Author: ANA MARIA FORTI BARELA Adviser: Prof. Dr. MARCOS DUARTE Walking in water has been used as an alternative way for both training and rehabilitation. However, there is little information about the biomechanical characteristics of shallow water walking. In terms of elderly individuals, it is even scarcer. Information about the biomechanical characteristics of walking in this environmental condition is important for a better understanding of this task. In this way, spatial-temporal, kinematics, ground reaction force (GRF), and electromyographic (EMG) characteristics of adults and elders walking in shallow water and on land were investigated. As such, ten adults (21-38 years old) and ten elders (60-77 years old) walked on land and then in shallow water (Xiphsternun water level) with self-selected comfortable walking speeds. In general, most stride spatialtemporal variables were different between both environments and groups. Although walking speed was different between adults and the elderly on land, both groups showed the same walking speed in shallow water. The investigated angle joints varied according to environment and/or group. The magnitude of the vertical GRF peaks was lower in shallow water than on land and the anterior-posterior horizontal GRF showed an acceleration phase only in shallow water. Finally, the EMG activation pattern was different for most investigated muscles and the EMG activity magnitude