Overview
- The peer‑reviewed paper, reported by multiple outlets on Tuesday, analyzed movement data from 107 healthy adults aged 26 to 86 to map how ankle mechanics change with age.
- Researchers found older people increasingly activate opposing ankle muscles at the same time, a pattern called co‑contraction that stiffens the joint and reduces the muscle push‑off that propels each step.
- Reduced push‑off power led to shorter strides, slower walking speeds and greater effort per step, which can increase fatigue and make long walks harder for older adults.
- The authors say the nervous system appears to trade efficiency for stability, lowering the ability to recover from trips or slips and thereby raising fall risk.
- Because the study is observational, it shows links and mechanisms but not that specific exercises will reverse them, so the team recommends testing programs that focus on balance, coordination and how muscles work together rather than strength alone.