Postural balance in subjects over the age of 50
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/MBS.2014.028Keywords
force platform balance test, postural balance, agingAbstract
B a c k g r o u n d . Postural stability is widely recognized as one of the main determinants of the functional efficiency of a person’s capability. It changes during ontogenesis and undergoes deterioration with age. Posturographic techniques enable the analysis of body sway and are used to obtain objective and quantitative data about postural equilibrium. Posturographic test results carried out in healthy subjects allow the analysis of the postural stability results obtained in institutions that do not have the possibility of testing healthy people as controls.
Ma t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . This study was conducted among 126 subjects aged between 50 and 97, each of which devoid of neurological, motor and metabolic diseases. Postural balance was evaluated using a static force platform (PROMED – Legionowo) which measures degree of sway, total path length, path length in the antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane and the “coordination” parameter. Each subject was tested in three different test conditions: eyes open, eyes closed and biofeedback. The Kruskall – Wallis tests were used to investigate the effect of age on values from force platform balance tests.
R e s u l t s . An age related increase in sway area, total path length, path length in antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane was observed in the eyes open test, eyes closed test and in the biofeedback test. The “Coordination” parameter from the biofeedback test decreased with age, achieving the lowest value at ages 60 and above. Kruskall – Wallis test indicated a significant effect of age on posturographic parameters.
C o n c l u s i o n s . The results of the study provide normative values for the force platform balance tests at ages 50 and above. Significantly higher values in sway area, total path length, path length in the antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane and the worsening of visual – motor coordination in subjects of ages 60 years and above were observed. It suggests that there is a deterioration of the postural control mechanisms during the aging process. Therefore, force platform balance tests are relevant to assess the systematic weakening of the postural control mechanism from age 60 onwards.
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