24 Mart 2025 Pazartesi
Project Type: TUBITAK 2515 - COST Action Members R&D Support Program
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veysel ALCAN
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Project Title: Evaluation of the Effects of Exergame Exercises on Balance Improvement and Foot Muscles in the Elderly by Surface EMG and Postural Oscillation Analysis
Project Duration: 24 Months
The increase in sedentary lifestyles among older adults has become a major public health concern, increasing age-related declines in physical mobility, muscle strength, postural control and balance. These factors contribute to an increased risk of falls, emphasizing the critical need for effective intervention strategies. Rehabilitative interactive games (Exergames) offer a promising approach that combines motor learning (balance and functional mobility) and cognitive development goals. However, the relationship of Exergames with lower limb functioning, balance and neuromuscular activity is poorly understood. Our project offers a novel approach that investigates the electromyography-force relationships of trunk, leg and foot muscles using surface electromyography (surface EMG) and addresses this area, which has been limited in the literature. This approach will provide valuable insights into the functional roles of leg and trunk muscles, as well as foot muscles in particular, in maintaining balance and mobility, and will complement aspects of lower limb muscles that are frequently assessed in the existing literature. The main aim of this project is to identify biomarkers based on surface EMG data related to physical fitness and cognitive/motor performance in the elderly population. In this context, it aims to fill the gap in the quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of interactive rehabilitative game exercises by characterizing the activity of the main muscles involved in the execution of the dynamic balance test and to develop a surface EMG frame of reference in terms of the variability of muscle activation useful in detecting possible balance deficits in the elderly.