Age-related kinematic performance must be considered during fast head-neck rotation target task in individuals aged from 8 to 85 years old

Rationale Kinematic behavior during fast cervical rotations is a useful parameter for assessing sensorimotor control performances in neck-pain patients. However, in asymptomatic individuals from children to seniors, the influence of age still needs to be explored. Aim and method We assessed the impact of age on sensorimotor control performance of the head-neck with execution time and kinematic variables (time of task, mean speed/acceleration/deceleration, overshoots, minimum/maximum speed) during standardized fast rotation target task using the DidRen Laser test. Eighty volunteers were stratified in four different age-groups: Children [8-14y]: n=16; Young Adults [18-35y]: n=29; Old Adults [36-64y]: n=18; Seniors [65-85y]: n=17. Results To perform the test, Children were slower compared to Young Adults (p<0.001) and Old Adults (p<0.001). It was also slower in Seniors compared to Young Adults (p<0.013). Mean speed was slower in Children and Seniors compared to Young Adults (p<0.001) and Old Adults (p<0.001). Mean acceleration was slower for Children compared to Young Adults (p<0.016) and Old Adults (p<0.015). Mean deceleration was slower for Children compared to Young Adults (p<0.001) and Old Adults (p<0.003). Conclusion The DidRen Laser test allows us to discriminate age-specific performances for mean speed, acceleration and deceleration. Seniors and Children needed to be slower to become as precise as Young and Old people, no difference was observed for overshoots which assesses accuracy of movement. Age must therefore be considered as a key parameter when analyzing execution time and kinematic results during DidRen Laser test.