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Biomedical subjects

A VanSant

Publications and source records attributed to A VanSant.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Changes in throwing by older adults: a longitudinal investigation.

This investigation examined change in a motor pattern requiring multisegmented coordination in older adults. The overarm throw was observed longitudinally in 8 elderly individuals over 7 years. Data were evaluated using Roberton's (Roberton & Halverson, 1984) movement components. Contrasting the assumed pattern of aging, only small declines in movement form were observed. Individual cases revealed additional, noncategorizable declines within component categories, including slower movement speed and decreased range of motion. Increased trial-to-trial variability also was associated with change. These changes suggested that elderly participants coordinated their movements in a manner similar to younger participants but controlled them differently. The small changes observed in this investigation suggest that performance, at least for some skills, is more stable than traditionally assumed.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Throwing patterns of older adults: a follow-up investigation.

Previous investigations of the movement patterns of older adults have focused on functional movements. Performance declines have been reported with increasing age. Many investigations, however, do not require older adults to perform maximal, force producing actions. Smaller declines might be observed if older adults made a maximal effort. This investigation examined changes in a maximal skill--the overarm throw for force. Active, older adults were videotaped as they threw tennis balls. Thirteen people were filmed for two consecutive years. Gender and age differences were examined for movement patterns, ball velocity, and selected kinematic measures. Participants threw using patterns and velocities generally observed in children in middle elementary-school years. This result suggested there was a decline in this force production skill. Some older adults regressed in the movement patterns they used over the two years of testing. Older males threw faster, using more advanced movement patterns than older females.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Sit-to-stand movement pattern. A kinematic study.

A visual model of the sit-to-stand movement pattern was developed from the film data of 38 women and 17 men as they assumed standing from a seated position. We used the data from these film records to identify a representative initial starting position and displacements of body segments for each of 20 equal intervals throughout the movement cycle. Trajectories of data points on the head, acromion, midiliac crest, hip, and knee also were plotted. These diagrams demonstrate the time-space relationships of various body parts during the task. This normalized model may be used by physical therapists as a standard to which they can compare the movement pattern of a patient.

Adult↗