Researcher ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4903-294X

Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

5-2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Reader 1

Jenna Monroy

Reader 2

Melissa Coleman

Rights Information

2006 Gabe J Gangi-Saroukhanioff

Abstract

EMG and Gait Changes In Older Adults During Dual Task Walking

In an aging population fall risk becomes a primary concern for the health and safety of

one’s self, which is due to changes in one’s gait. Older individuals have shown wider

based-gaits, a decrease in velocity, step length, and lower limb strength (Appeadu and Bordoni,

2026). These characteristics of walking are controlled by joint angles, and subsequently muscles

that control the joints. Slower cognitive function has also been seen to co-exist with mobility

decline and slowing of one’s gait (Montero-Odasso et al,. 2012). We specifically looked at the

activation of the medial head of the gastrocnemius during walking trails. For the trails we used 3

different incline angles: 0%, 4%, and 8%. Along with this we had three different cognitive tasks:

easy, medium, and hard. Each of the cognitive tasks was repeated at each of the inclines to give

us 9 trials per participant in total. We hypothesized that peak activation of the medial

gastrocnemius head of the calf would be greatest when incline and cognitive tasks were most

difficult, as this would require more muscle dexterity in order to compensate for these changes.

Overall, insight into this relationship can help paint a clearer picture for ways to prevent fall risk.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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