## 1 Introduction
This results in quicker adaptation of their gait patterns in response to perturbations, including changes in stride length, step width, or body alignment to regain stability. [PERSON] et al. [8] described the perceived causes, environmental influences, and resulting injuries associated with falls in a young population (20-45 years) comprising 292 participants, a middle-aged group (46-65 years) with 616 participants, and an older age group (>65 years) including 589 participants. Across all age groups and in both genders, walking on uneven surfaces or stairs was the activity most often cited as the cause of falls. Younger subjects fell more often while running, and seniors while walking. Younger participants tended to fall more often outdoors, while the percentage of falls indoors increased from the middle to the older age group. Thirty-seven percent of older women and 23% of older men reported falling in their homes. Most older fallers mentioned tripping as the cause of their fall [17]. Participants perceived the causes of falls in balance, gait impairment, head disturbance, accidents, and the environment. From the middle to older age groups, falls due to accidents or the environment decreased, while falls due to balance, gait, or head disorders increased. Wrist/hand, knee, and ankle injuries were most common in the young group, knee injuries in the middle-aged group, and head and knee injuries in the older group. Injuries across the age groups and between genders were not significantly different. However, women had a higher rate of falls than men regardless of age group, confirmed by retrospective studies [18,19]. It is worth emphasizing that falls in the elderly can have severe consequences, from injury and short- or long-term disability to death. Falls also generate costs for patients, the health system, and society [7,20,21]. It is particularly significant for women with menopausal osteoporosis, who have a greater tendency to break bones after a fall. Therefore, biomechanical analyses of gait disorders can help determine and plan preventive physiotherapy to minimize their negative impact, especially in the older population. The objective of this study was to systematically analyze how healthy young and older women respond biomechanically to controlled treadmill perturbations applied during the Pre-Swing phase, particularly focusing on differences in compensatory strategies, joint angles, torques, and GRF components. Although the aim of this study is stated, the rationale for selecting the Pre-Swing phase and the non-dominant limb requires further clarification. The Pre-Swing phase is a biomechanically critical moment in the gait cycle responsible for propulsion and initiation of limb advancement [22]. It is characterized by rapid unloading of the stance leg and generation of forward momentum, making it particularly vulnerable to destabilizing perturbations. Studying this phase can provide valuable insight into how the body manages balance threats during a transitional moment of gait. Additionally, targeting the non-dominant limb is relevant because asymmetries in strength, neuromuscular control, and sensory input may influence the ability to respond to perturbations. Prior research suggests that the non-dominant limb often exhibits distinct compensatory strategies, which are crucial to consider when assessing age-related or functional differences in gait stability.