AMHERST, Mass. – Older adults on a walk or hike, or just going about their daily routines, seem to experience greater fatigue than their younger counterparts. Such fatigue may ultimately affect their ability to participate in activities that are meaningful to them and help keep them healthy.

A University of Massachusetts Amherst team of scientists in the Department of Kinesiology is focused on understanding how muscle fatigue and changes in gait (i.e., how we walk) affect the ability of people in their 70s and 80s to remain active.

With a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Aging, biomechanical engineer Katherine Boyer will lead the study, which is recruiting participants in Western Massachusetts.