This book is an attempt to advance the discussion and improve our understanding about the effects of aging and movement disorders on motor control during walking and postural tasks. Despite these activities are performed daily, there is a high requirement of motor and neural systems in order to perform both tasks efficiently. Both walking and posture require a complex interaction of musculoskeletal and neural systems. However, the mechanisms used to control these tasks, as well as how they are planned and coordinated, are still a question of discussion among health professionals and researchers. In addition, this discussion is more interesting when the effects of aging are included in the context of locomotion and the postural control. The number of older individuals is 841 million in 2015, which is four times higher than the 202 million that lived in 1950. Aging causes many motor, sensorial and neural deficits, which impair locomotion and postural control in the elderly. The severity of this framework is worsened when the aging goes along with a movement disorder, such as Parkinson disease, Chorea, Dystonia, Huntington disease, etc. Therefore, the aim of this book is to highlight the influence of different aspects on planning, controlling and performing locomotion and posture tasks. In attempting to improve current knowledge in this field, invited authors present and discuss how environmental, sensorial, motor, cognitive and individual aspects influence the planning and performance of locomotor and postural activities. The major thrust of the book is to address the mechanisms involved in controlling and planning motor action in neurological healthy individuals, as well as in those who suffer from movement disorders or face the effects of aging, indicating the aspects that impair locomotion and postural control. In addition, new technologies, tools and interventions designed to manage the effects of aging and movement disorders are presented in the book.

Emerging and currently available technologies offer great promise for helping older adults, even those without serious disabilities, to live healthy, comfortable, and productive lives. What technologies offer the most potential benefit? What challenges must be overcome, what problems must be solved, for this promise to be fulfilled? How can federal agencies like the National Institute on Aging best use their resources to support the translation from laboratory findings to useful, marketable products and services? Technology for Adaptive Aging is the product of a workshop that brought together distinguished experts in aging research and in technology to discuss applications of technology to communication, education and learning, employment, health, living environments, and transportation for older adults. It includes all of the workshop papers and the report of the committee that organized the workshop. The committee report synthesizes and evaluates the points made in the workshop papers and recommends priorities for federal support of translational research in technology for older adults.

Providing a solid foundation in the normal development of functional movement, Functional Movement Development Across the Life Span, 4th Edition helps you recognize and understand typical functional movement in individuals from infancy to older adulthood, providing a framework from which to identify movement disorders and effectively manage patients with abnormal motor function. Divided into three units, this edition describes 1) theoretical frameworks of development, motor control/motor learning, and health/wellness; 2) anatomical and physiological development of the body systems comprising the movement system (muscular, skeletal, cardiopulmonary, nervous, sensory, integumentary, and endocrine); and 3) life span description of the movement functions of posture, balance, locomotion, prehension, and fitness. This edition integrates themes of the movement system, life span development, and health/wellness, providing you with the most current information needed for clinical decision making and to be an effective practitioner. Written by physical therapy experts Donna J. Cech, Suzanne "Tink" Martin, and William Staples, this book provides the evidence-based information and tools needed to understand functional movement and manage patients' functional skills throughout the life span. Dr. Staples brings his expertise in geriatric physical therapy and exercise in aging, enriching content on aging throughout the book. - More than 200 illustrations, tables, and special features clarify developmental concepts, address clinical implications, and summarize key points relating to clinical practice. - A logical, easy-to-read format includes 13 chapters organized into three units covering the definition of functional movement, movement system contribution to functional movement across the life span, and functional movement outcomes. - A focus on evidence-based information covers development changes across the life span and how they impact function. - NEW! The movement system framework is incorporated throughout, as well as a focus on health and wellness. - NEW! Clinical Implication boxes help you apply information into a clinical framework. - Revised content throughout provides you with the most current information needed to be an effective practitioner. - Updated references ensure content is current and applicable for today's practice. - NEW! An ebook version is included with print purchase. The ebook allows you to access all the text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes, and highlights, and have content read aloud.

The control of balance by the central nervous system is crucial to maintain our posture and perform efficiently our daily motor tasks. This control requires the development of dynamical phenomena sub-served by highly-coordinated patterns of muscle activation/deactivation disseminated throughout the whole-body and called “postural adjustments”. Establishing the interaction between balance control, locomotion and cognition has important clinical implication, especially in term of falls prevention, and will improve our knowledge on the underlying neural correlates. This Research Topic provides an up-to-date picture of the relationship between postural adjustments, body balance and motor performance in healthy (young and older adults) and pathological participants. It includes 36 contributions (1 editorial, 28 original articles, 4 reviews and 3 methods articles) which are separated into four sections: 1. Postural maintenance and multisensory integration, 2. Anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movement, 3. Postural adjustments associated with predictable and unpredictable external perturbation, 4. Gait assessment and rehabilitation in aging. Beside their basic interest of unveiling the mechanisms behind motor control, results from the investigations of this topic are relevant to develop new methods or tools to improve postural stability and motor performance, with applications in the fields of neurodegenerative conditions, rehabilitation, ergonomics and sports sciences.