Perturbation Training to Improve Balance Recovery of Old Adults

A Randomized control trial we will compare two perturbation motor learning paradigms with different challenge level of the practice condition (i.e. blocked practice vs random practice). According to motor learning theory we hypothesize that a) healthy older adults will benefit more from random practice. The purpose of this stage is to investigate the effects of task practice order (random vs blocked) on motor learning (i.e. responding to perturbations during walking) in older adults. According to motor learning theory we hypothesize that a) healthy older adults will benefit more from the random motor learning approach as compared to using blocked practice.