This study aims to determine the effect of acute mild intermittent hypoxia on ankle plantarflexor muscle output during balance regulation and walking in younger and older adults. Fifteen younger adults and 15 older adults will be recruited to participate in the cross-over design study that requires 2 visits (at least 1-week apart). Participants will be pseudo-randomly assigned to receive either intermittent hypoxia or sham during the first visit, and then switch over to receive sham or intermittent hypoxia during the 2nd visit. Muscle activation patterns and kinetic and kinematics during standing and walking will be recorded before and after the intermittent hypoxia/sham. It is hypothesized that compared to the sham condition, both younger and older participants will show greater increases in ankle plantarflexor muscle activation during gait and balance assessments following intermittent hypoxia.
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Soleus muscle activation pattern
Timeframe: pre (2o minutes before) and post (20 minutes after) intermittent hypoxia or sham session
Ankle plantarflexion torque
Timeframe: pre (20 minutes before) and post (20 minutes after) intermittent hypoxia or sham session