Age related changes in postural stability (original) (raw)

Postural control among normal population of different age groups

International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 2016

Postural sway increases with age. Hence, it is important to study the changes in postural balance that occur with aging. Deterioration in postural control in elderly populations can be proved or explained by impaired cognitive function. 1-3 Also, decline in sensory inputs such as visual, vestibular, and somatosensory input lead to decline in motor responses with deterioration in sensory integration systems and other musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. These result in decreased muscle strength, impaired knee or plantar reflexes, slow reaction time, and decreased efficacy of protective movement. 2-4 Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) is used to ABSTRACT Background: Postural control continues to change in later stages of life. Age-related changes may occur within or between subsystems involved in postural control. It is thought clinically that these changes are important as they often result in falls & injury. The aim of the work was to compare the balance characteristics among different age groups using computerized dynamic posturography to provide clinicians with normal references. Methods: Inclusion criteria were study group consisted of (30) normal healthy individuals, age range 16-79 years, with neither hearing nor vestibular complaints. It was divided into 3 age groups, each group consisted of 10 patients. Group (A) young-16-39 years, group (B) middle-40-59 years and group (C) elderly-60-79 years. Exclusion criteria were history of neuromuscular or neuroskeletal disease, symptoms of unsteadiness, dizziness or vertigo, symptoms of impaired sensory function, symptoms of arthritis or lower limb problem, symptoms of uncorrected visual problems, symptoms of postural hypotension or diabetes, medication intake such as sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics & antidepressants. All participants were subjected to full history taking, otologic examination, basic audiologic evaluation, computerized dynamic posturography which included sensory organization test, limits of stability and rhythmic weight shift. Results: Sensory organization test: The elderly group (C) had lowest equilibrium score with eyes open, closed & with conflicted visual cues on swayed surface (condition 6) and also this group have lowest percentage of SOT strategy. There was a statistically significant difference among A & C groups when using sensory organization test strategy in all conditions. Limits of stability test: The elderly group has higher overall reaction time. There was statistically significant difference in all conditions of limits of stability as regards directional control. Rhythmic weight shift right and left test: There was a statistically significant difference between groups A & C in low & medium speed on on-axis velocity & directional control. Rhythmic weight shift front & back test: There was no statistically significant difference between all groups as regards on-axis velocity. There was highly statistically significant difference between all groups in all trials as regards directional control. Conclusions: Postural instability occurs frequently in healthy elderly subjects. Sensory organization test is the most effective test to compare balance function among different age groups.

Age-related differences in postural control in humans in response to a sudden deceleration generated by postural disturbance

European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2001

Age-related dierences in postural control in response to a relatively large deceleration resulting from postural disturbance were investigated in eight normal elderly men (age range 67±72 years) and eight young men as controls (age range 19±22 years) using a moving platform. Data were obtained for the hip, knee and ankle angles, position of the centre of foot pressure (CFP), head acceleration, and muscle activity of the leg muscles. The elderly subjects had slower and larger ankle and hip joint movements, and CFP displacement in response to the disturbance compared to the young controls. The elderly subjects also had a delayed occurrence, and greater magnitude of peak acceleration of head rotation than did the young subjects. For the elderly subjects, the CFP was closely related to angular changes in the hip joint movement, but not to those of the ankle and knee joint movements. For the young subjects, on the other hand, the CFP was signi®cantly correlated with angular change in the ankle joint. Cocontraction of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles was observed in the elderly subjects. The results indicated that a movement pattern for postural correction in the elderly adults was dierent from that of the young adults. The elderly relied more on hip movements while the young controls relied on ankle movements to control postural stability.

Postural stability in the elderly: empirical confirmation of a theoretical model

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2004

The study investigated whether physiological factors related to specific body systems can explain postural control as measured by the scalar distance at a given time between the center of pressure (COP) and the center of mass (COM), the COP-COM variable. The data from 46 healthy subjects and 29 subjects with disabilities due to stroke or diabetic peripheral neuropathy were analyzed. The biomechanical variable COP-COM was determined using two force platforms and an optoelectric system. Three systems were considered as possible predictors of the COP-COM amplitude: sensory (somatosensory and vision), musculoskeletal and central processor. A confirmatory analysis was done using structural equation modeling. Strength explained 23.74% of the COP-COM amplitude in the antero-posterior (A/P) with eyes open (EO) condition, and in the medio-lateral (M/L) direction strength explained 40.73 and 28.75% in the EO and eyes closed (EC) respectively. In the A/P direction with EC, 51.75% of the COP-COM amplitude variance was explained mainly by the somatosensory system. This study highlight the role of peripheral somatosensory input and muscle strength in the maintenance of postural stability during quiet stance in the elderly. The indirect action of the different systems on the COP-COM amplitude supports the systems theory.

Agings and the parameters in static postural way

Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 2014

There is strong scientific evidence from research trials that aging is associated with loss of muscle mass and decline of neuromuscular abilities. Postural stability is an important neuromuscular ability for the maintenance of upright posture as well as maintaining equilibrium or balance while performing movements and everyday activities. Postural stability is also an important factor in elderly people where postural instability is a major contributor to falls. In our study young and elderly subjects stood quietly in upright posture with parallel positions of their feet and opened eyes on a force platform and performed 3 trials with each trial lasting 30 s. The effects of healthy aging on postural sway parameters were studied. We found that age-related changes in postural sway mostly affect the velocity of the center of pressure movement and the mean amplitude center of pressure movement during static postural sway test.

Postural stability in adults under 30 years of age

2015

Introduction. The aim of the present study is to determine the standard values of parameters describing postural stability: COP area, COP length and lower limbs loading symmetry index (SI). Material and Methods. 60 students of physiotherapy from the University School of Physical Education in Poznan participated in the study. In the case of 29 students, contraindications to participating in the study were identified. Ultimately, 31 participants were selected to take 30-second tests performed while standing on both feet, with and without visual control. Results. The standard values of the COP length parameter were determined. In the test with visual control, 6.5% of participants achieved high and very high scores. 87% achieved average scores. In the test without visual control, 9.7% of participants achieved high and very high scores, while 80.6% attained average scores. The SI index had a normal distribution. It showed that most people put the weight onto their left lower limb, both w...

Dynamic Components of Postural Control in Women Aged 60–74 Years with Different Rates of Ageing

Vestnik of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V.Lomonosov. Series "Medical and Biological Sciences", 2016

This article presents the results of the study into the dynamic components of postural control in women aged 60-74 years with different rates of ageing. The research involved women with low (n = 83) and normal (n = 85) rates of ageing. To assess the dynamic components of postural control we used the computer-aided stabilometric complex Balance Master. In Sit-to-Stand test women with normal rate of ageing showed decreased rising index and increased sway velocity. These data suggest reduced adaptive abilities as well as changes in the neurophysiological mechanisms of holding posture at quick rising from a seated position in women with normal rate of ageing compared to those with low rate of ageing. The Walk Across test revealed increased step width and reduced gait speed in women with normal rate of ageing. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in Tandem Walk test, which indicates that no changes take place either in the adaptation abilities or neurophysiological mechanisms of postural control in women 60-74 years old with normal rate of ageing. We suggest that the preservation of effective coordination during walking in older women will have a positive effect on their life expectancy. Further, in Step/Quick Turn test, prolonged turn time to the left and to the right as well as increased turn sway were observed in older women with normal rate of ageing compared to those with low rate of ageing. These data suggest reduced adaptive abilities and changes in the neurophysiological mechanisms of complex motor acts in women with normal rate of ageing.

Examination of Age-Related Differences on Clinical Tests of Postural Stability

Sports health, 2016

The modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) and Y-Balance Test are common clinical measurements of postural control, but little is known about the effect of age on performance of these tasks. The purpose of this study was to examine how healthy child and adolescent athletes perform on 2 common clinical measurements of postural control. Younger athletes would demonstrate poorer postural control compared with older athletes. Cross-sectional study. Level 3. Three hundred eighty-nine athletes between the ages of 10 and 18 years underwent an evaluation of postural control. Each participant completed the mBESS in the double-leg, single-leg, and tandem stances as well as the Y-Balance Test. Postural stability data were analyzed between age groups (10-12, 13-15, and 16-18 years) using univariate analyses of covariance. The youngest athletes (10-12 years) had a greater mean number of errors in the single-leg stance of the mBESS than the 13- to 15-year-old and 16- to 18-year-old athlete...

Evaluation of Postural Stability in Young and Elderly Women

Biomedical Human Kinetics, 2018

Study aim: Assessment of postural stability performed on an unstable stabilometry platform. Comparison of the results ob­tained by two groups consisting of elderly (OW) (60+ years old) and younger women (YW).Material and methods: Seventy-three female volunteers were divided into two groups: 40 young women (20.2 ± 1.75), and 32 elderly women (68.3 ± 7.43). Participants performed five stability tests on Biodex Balance System SD: three 20-second tries, the Postural Stability Test (PST) and the Fall Risk Test (FRT). Three stability indexes - overall (OSI), anterior-posterior (APSI), and medial-lateral (MLSI) - both with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) were analyzed. The impact of vision on balance was calculated as EC-EO. Also effect size was calculated and evaluated.Results: All of the parameters differed significantly between groups in favour of YW. The largest difference in significance as well as effect size was noted for FRT, p < 0.001 and 1.86 respectively. Tries measure the imp...

Characterization and modeling of postural steadiness in the elderly: a review

IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, 1993

The identification and characterization of age-related changes in postural steadiness will enhance our understanding of the postural control system, and may help to identify persons at risk for falls in the elderly population. This review includes a discussion of the methods that have been used to evaluate the static (postural steadiness) and dynamic (postural stability) performance of the postural control system. Time and frequency domain measures of postural steadiness are described. Research investigations of age-related changes in the postural control system, with an emphasis on postural steadiness evaluations, are discussed. Control systems and biomechanical models of the postural control system are described. Finally, the evaluation of bilateral asymmetries in postural sway and weight distribution, with a dual force plate balance platform, is briefly discussed.

Spectral characteristics of ageing postural control

Gait & Posture, 1995

The purpose of this study was to apply techniques of spectral analysis to the study of postural control and determine if ageing results in changes to spectral parameters obtained from postural forces. Subjects were young adults and elderly who live independently and had no difficulty performing tasks of daily living. Ground reaction forces were obtained from a measurement platform during repeated trials of static standing. Forces were analysed using spectral analysis and selected parameters (certPa/ tendency md dispersion) were extracted from averaged spectral data. Significant differences were observed between age groups in all parameters extracted from spectra obtained from medial-lateral postural forces. Similar re$ults were not obtained for data in the anterior-posterior direction. Results suggest that ageing affects the spectral characteristics of postural forces used to maintain stability in the m-l direction.