The central nervous system adjusts muscle synergy structure and tightly controls rollator-supported transitions between sitting and standing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older individuals are at risk of falling. Assistive devices like rollators help to reduce that risk, especially by compensating for decreased leg muscle strength and balance problems. Paradoxically, rollators have been found to be a fall risk as well as being difficult to use. To investigate the causes, this study examines how different levels of rollator support (no assistance, light touch, and full support) and balance demands (standard lab floor, balance pads) affect movement coordination during standing up and sitting down movements.

Methods

Twenty young participants stood up and sat down while full-body kinematics and muscle activity (30 channels) were recorded. Participants stood up and sat down using different movement strategies (e.g., forward leaning, hyb

SUBMITTER: Herzog M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12032710 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature