The relationships between physical capacity and biomechanical plasticity in old adults during level and incline walking

Old compared to young adults exhibit increased hip and decreased ankle mechanical output during walking – a phenomenon known as biomechanical plasticity. Previous comparison studies suggest that low compared to high capacity old adults exhibit larger magnitudes of this plasticity, however the precise relationship between capacity and plasticity magnitude remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationships between physical capacity and biomechanical plasticity magnitude during level and incline walking. Data were collected for 32 old adults walking over level and inclined (+10°) surfaces at self-selected, comfortable speeds. Physical capacity was measured using the Short-Form Health Survey Physical Component (SF-36 PC) and biomechanical plasticity was quantified by ratios of hip extensor to ankle plantarfexor peak torques, angular impulses, peak positive powers, and positive work (larger ratios indicate larger magnitudes of plasticity). SF-36 PC scores correlated positively with all four biomechanical plasticity ratios during level walking and three of the four ratios during incline walking. Some of the biomechanical plasticity ratios correlated positively with comfortable walking speeds and stride frequencies, indicating better walking performance with larger magnitudes of plasticity. Additionally, all four biomechanical plasticity ratios were larger during incline compared to level walking, suggesting the need for larger magnitudes of plasticity during the more difficult task. These results indicate that larger magnitudes of biomechanical plasticity afford functional benefits such as increased level and incline walking performance for old adults. Increased walking performance has the potential to increase quality of life in the growing population of old adults.