About this Research Topic
Gait and postural control are affected by aging, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders. Poor gait and postural control are associated with disability, falls and increased morbidity. As such, they represent major public health issues. Understanding the patho-psychophysiological mechanisms affecting gait and postural control helps to prevent these poor clinical outcomes and to improve individual rehabilitative programs.
We welcome authors to submit original research and review articles that promote a better understanding of the patho-psychophysiological mechanisms affecting gait and postural control in order to aid the development of effective preventive and rehabilitative strategies. Specifically, we are interested in articles that investigate the physiological changes and neuroimaging that affect gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging with transition in frailty states, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
A special care will be devoted to articles investigating physiological changes in the adaptive capacity of these populations to internal (e.g. fatigue, pain etc.) and external (e.g. obstacle to clear, surface slipperiness, slope etc.) constraints that may potentially lead to imbalance and fall. This Research Topic also aims to promote articles that propose new preventive/rehabilitation methods (e.g.electrostimulation, muscular stretching, motor imagery, virtual reality, exergames, whole-body vibrations, etc.) for improving gait and postural control in these populations. Physiology is herein considered in its broad meaning. Studies using techniques and concepts of neurophysiology and biomechanics thus fall within the scope of this Research Topic. Multidisciplinary studies, e.g. investigating the relationship between psychological factors (e.g. emotion, fear of falling etc.) or cognitive constraints on biomechanical/(neuro)physiological gait and postural control parameters are also welcomed.
Potential areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
• Physiological and neuroimaging changes of gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Influence of psychological and cognitive factors on gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Relationship between gait/postural changes and falls in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Motor and cognitive prevention/rehabilitative interventions aiming to improve gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
We welcome authors to submit original research and review articles that promote a better understanding of the patho-psychophysiological mechanisms affecting gait and postural control in order to aid the development of effective preventive and rehabilitative strategies. Specifically, we are interested in articles that investigate the physiological changes and neuroimaging that affect gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging with transition in frailty states, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
A special care will be devoted to articles investigating physiological changes in the adaptive capacity of these populations to internal (e.g. fatigue, pain etc.) and external (e.g. obstacle to clear, surface slipperiness, slope etc.) constraints that may potentially lead to imbalance and fall. This Research Topic also aims to promote articles that propose new preventive/rehabilitation methods (e.g.electrostimulation, muscular stretching, motor imagery, virtual reality, exergames, whole-body vibrations, etc.) for improving gait and postural control in these populations. Physiology is herein considered in its broad meaning. Studies using techniques and concepts of neurophysiology and biomechanics thus fall within the scope of this Research Topic. Multidisciplinary studies, e.g. investigating the relationship between psychological factors (e.g. emotion, fear of falling etc.) or cognitive constraints on biomechanical/(neuro)physiological gait and postural control parameters are also welcomed.
Potential areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
• Physiological and neuroimaging changes of gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Influence of psychological and cognitive factors on gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Relationship between gait/postural changes and falls in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
• Motor and cognitive prevention/rehabilitative interventions aiming to improve gait and postural control in normal and pathological aging, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions
Keywords: Posture, Balance, Gait, Prevention, Rehabilitation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
