Differences in Stepping Characteristics During the TUG Test with Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease

Melina A. McCabe*, Hannah D. Carey, and Jessica L. Allen, Ph.D.
Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Presentation Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering (Poster presentation)

Student’s Major: Biomedical Engineering

Underlying factors such as aging and disease can affect walking performance and ability. We investigated how foot placement during the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test is modulated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. Five healthy young adult subjects, one middle-aged adult subject, and one middle-aged adult subject with diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis (MS) performed a series of walking trials. Subjects each completed a minimum of 8 (avg: 14.1±7.2) trials of the TUG test, which involves standing from a chair, walking 3m, turning, and walking back to the chair. We examined how the subject’s step length, width, and variability differed between the groups. Preliminary data suggest that step length and width were not significantly different between the three groups. However, step length and width variability were significantly increased in the middle-aged subject and middle-aged subject with MS as compared to the healthy young adults. This study is the first step towards understanding how walking performance and gait variability differ due to aging and underlying neurodegenerative disease, which may lead to an increased fall risk or unsteady gait in people with these conditions.

Funding: SURE Program

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course