Effect of a structured volitional step training on the attributes of reactive stepping in the elderly population

Falls pose a major risk, particularly for older adults and individuals with balance impairments, often leading to severe injuries and reduced quality of life. Reactive stepping, a quick step taken to regain balance after a perturbation, plays a crucial role in fall prevention. While both reactive and volitional step training improve balance, volitional training typically lacks a focus on step speed and execution time.

This study explores whether volitional step training, when structured to emphasize speed, can enhance reactive stepping ability. The Choice Stepping Reaction Time (CSRT) test, introduced by Professor Stephen Lord, assesses voluntary stepping in a structured manner and reflects essential balance control mechanisms. A modified version, CSRT-M, offers a time-bound approach, motivating individuals to complete steps within a specific timeframe.

We hypothesize that volitional step training using CSRT-M, combined with performance feedback, can improve reactive stepping characteristics—first step time, first step distance, and balance recovery distance—more effectively than conventional step training. This study evaluates these effects in both young adults and the elderly.