Ankle control differentiation as a mechanism for mobility limitations

Eric G. James, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Suzanne G. Leveille, Thomas Travison, Jonathan F. Bean

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Independent control of the right and left ankles (differentiation) may be a motor control mechanism linking impaired coordination and mobility limitations. We tested the hypotheses that motor control differentiation of the ankles, as measured using Cross-Sample Entropy, during antiphase coordination at two movement frequencies, is associated with impaired coordination (high ankle coordination variability) and mobility limitations (Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9). We conducted a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults (N = 133) aged 80.04 (±4.67) years. In linear regression modeling, low ankle Cross-Sample Entropy (low motor control differentiation) was associated with poor (i.e., high) coordination variability at the slower (P = 0.026), but not the faster (P = 0.447), ankle movement frequency. In logistic regression modeling, low Cross-Sample Entropy at the slower (OR = 1.67; 95 % CI: 1.07–2.59) and faster (OR = 2.38; 95 % CI: 1.43–3.94) ankle movement frequencies were associated with increased odds for mobility limitations. Our findings support the hypothesis that ankle differentiation may be a motor control mechanism that links impaired coordination with mobility limitations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number135085
JournalNeuroscience letters
Volume732
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 27 2020

Keywords

  • Ankle
  • Coordination
  • Differentiation
  • Mobility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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