New Australian research is helping explain why walking can become slower and more tiring with age, according to ScienceDaily. The study suggests the body gradually trades some movement efficiency for greater stability and balance.
Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Canberra analyzed movement data from 107 healthy adults ages 26 to 86. They found age-related changes in how the ankle and nearby muscles work during each step.
Lead author Dr. Cody Lindsay said aging appears to push the body toward a “safety-first” walking strategy that favors staying upright over moving efficiently. The study found older adults were more likely to use opposing ankle muscles at the same time, a pattern called co-contraction, which stiffens the joint and can improve stability when the foot hits the ground.
That added stability comes with a cost, researchers said. Older participants produced less push-off power, took shorter strides and walked more slowly, which may help explain why walking can feel harder and why longer distances can become more fatiguing.
The researchers said the findings could help guide future exercise and rehabilitation programs by focusing not only on strength, but also on balance, coordination and how muscles work together during walking.
