Plantar sensation, plantar pressure, and postural stability alterations and effects of visual status in older adults

Age-related changes in the density, morphology, and physiology of plantar cutaneous receptors negatively impact the quality and quantity of balance-relevant information arising from the foot soles. Plantar perceptual sensitivity declines with age and may predict postural instability; however, alteration in lower limb cutaneous reflex strength may also explain greater instability in older adults and has yet to be investigated. We replicated the age-related decline in sensitivity by assessing monofilament and vibrotactile (30 and 250 Hz) detection thresholds near the first metatarsal head bilaterally in healthy young and older adults. We additionally applied continuous 30- and 250-Hz vibration to drive mechanically evoked reflex responses in the tibialis anterior muscle, measured via surface electromyography. To investigate potential relationships between plantar sensitivity, cutaneous reflex strength, and postural stability, we performed posturography in subjects during quiet standing without vision. Anteroposterior and mediolateral postural stability decreased with age, and increases in postural sway amplitude and frequency were significantly correlated with increases in plantar detection thresholds. With 30-Hz vibration, cutaneous reflexes were observed in 95% of young adults but in only 53% of older adults, and reflex gain, coherence, and cumulant density at 30 Hz were lower in older adults. Reflexes were not observed with 250-Hz vibration, suggesting this high-frequency cutaneous input is filtered out by motoneurons innervating tibialis anterior. Our findings have important implications for assessing the risk of balance impairment in older adults.

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Influence of a training session on postural stability and foot loading patterns in soccer players

Orthopedic Reviews ◽

10.4081/or.2016.6360 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Vanessa K.N. Petry ◽

Jürgen R.J. Paletta ◽

Bilal F. El-Zayat ◽

Turgay Efe ◽

Nathalie S.D. Michel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pressure Distribution ◽

Plantar Pressure ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Training Session ◽

Young Age ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Plantar Pressure Distribution ◽

Loading Patterns ◽

Soccer Training ◽

Foot Loading

Sport specific movements coming along with characteristic plantar pressure distribution and a fatigue of muscles result in an increasing postural sway and therefore lead to a decrease in balance control. Although single soccer specific movements were expatiated with respect to these parameters, no information is available for a complete training session. The objective of the present observational study was to analyze the direct influence of soccer training on postural stability and gait patterns and whether or not these outcomes were altered by age. One hundred and eighteen experienced soccer players participated in the study and were divided into two groups. Group 1 contained 64 soccer players (age 13.31±0.66 years) and Group 2 contains 54 ones (age 16.74±0.73 years). Postural stability, static plantar pressure distribution and dynamic foot loading patterns were measured. Our results showed that the soccer training session, as well as the age, has relevant influence on postural stability, while the age only (excluding the training) has an influence on static plantar pressure distribution. The parameters of dynamic assessment seem therefore to be affected by age, training and a combination of both. Training and young age correlate with a decreased postural stability; they lead to a significant increase of peak pressure in the previously most loaded areas, and, after reaching a certain age and magnitude of absolute values, to a change in terminal stance and preswing phase of the roll-over. Moreover, younger players show an inhomogenous static plantar pressure distribution which might be the result of the decreased postural control in the young age.

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WHAT IS THE ROLE BODY SWAY DEVIATION AND BODY SWAY VELOCITY PLAY IN POSTURAL STABILITY IN OLDER ADULTS?

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove Czech Republic) ◽

10.14712/18059694.2014.19 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 117-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jitka Jančová Všetečková ◽

Nicholas Drey

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Care Home ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Body Sway ◽

Centre Of Pressure ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Surface Test ◽

The University

This cross sectional study focused on how Postural Stability (PS) indicators: body sway deviation (BSD) and body sway velocity (BSV), change with age and their association with levels of social and physical activity. Observational study: 80 older adults (aged: 60–96) were purposefully recruited from two sources: the University of the Third Age (TAU) (n = 35) and a residential care home (CH) (n = 45). Differences in the indicators of PS, approximated through Centre of Pressure (COP) measurements, were assessed by the Romberg Stance Test (Test A) subsequently repeated on 10 cm foam surface (Test B), using a Kistler® Dynamometric Platform. The RCH Group was older, had higher BMI and was less socially and physically active, showed more body sway in all indicators compared to TAU group. For all participants body sway velocity (BSV) was significantly correlated with age. The strength of correlation of body sway deviation (BSD) with age was also significant but not as strong. The findings indicate in line with previous studies that deterioration in BSV is associated with poor PS more than deterioration in BSD.

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Kinematic Analysis of Dance-Based Exergaming: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Dance Medicine & Science ◽

10.12678/1089-313x.091521e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ernest K. Ofori ◽

Savitha Subramaniam ◽

Shuaijie Wang ◽

Tanvi Bhatt

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Age Related ◽

Aging Populations ◽

Cortical Pathology

Background: Recent studies demonstrate improvements in both postural stability and mobility among aging populations and those with stroke who are exposed to dance-based exergaming (DBExG). However, age-related deficits and aging with cortical pathology may lead to distinct movement adaptation patterns during DBExG, which could impact therapeutic outcomes.Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the movement kinematics (postural stability and mobility) of healthy older adults, older adults with stroke, and young adults for different paces of dance during DBExG. Method: The study included 33 particpants (11 participant from each group of healthy older adults, older adults with chronic stroke, and healthy young adults) who performed the DBExG using slow- (SP), medium- (MP), and fast-paced (FP) songs with movements in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Center of mass (CoM) sway area, excursion (Ex), and peaks as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions were computed. Results: Results of the study revealed that CoM sway areas and Exs were greater for healthy young adults than for older adults with stroke for the SP dance (p < 0.05) and that there were significantly more AP CoM peaks for young adults than for healthy older adults and those with stroke for the FP dance (p < 0.05). Young adults also exhibited greater hip and ankle Exs than older adults with stroke (p < 0.05) for all song paces. Similarly, knee and ankle Exs were greater for healthy older adults than for older adults with stroke for all song paces (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The quantitative evaluation and comparison of the movement patterns presented for the three groups could provide a foundation for both assessing and designing therapeutic DBExG protocols for these populations.

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Contribution of Somatosensory and Parietal Association Areas in Improving Standing Postural Stability Through Standing Plantar Perception Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0130 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Satoshi Matsuno ◽

Takuya Yoshiike ◽

Atsushi Yoshimura ◽

Sachiyo Morita ◽

Yusuke Fujii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Cortical Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Training Outcomes ◽

Before And After ◽

Association Area ◽

Perception Training

Although standing plantar perception training (SPPT) may improve standing postural stability, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. The authors investigated the relationship between regional cortical responses to SPPT using a balance pad and training outcomes in 32 older participants (mean ± SD:72.2 ± 6.0, range:60–87). Regional cortical activity was measured in the bilateral supplementary motor area, primary sensorimotor area, and parietal association area using near-infrared spectroscopy. Postural sway changes were compared before and after SPPT. Changes in two-point plantar discrimination and regional cortical activity during SPPT, associated with standing postural stability improvements, were examined using multiple regression and indicated improved standing postural stability after SPPT (p < .0001). Changes in right parietal association area activity were associated with standing postural stability improvements while barefoot. Overall, the results suggest that right parietal association area activation during SPPT plays a crucial role in regulating standing postural stability and may help develop strategies to prevent older adults from falling.

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Effect of peer-led adapted aquatics on functional fitness, self-efficacy, and postural stability among older adults

Educational Gerontology ◽

10.1080/03601277.2021.2016048 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Jihyun Lee ◽

Adriane Cris Tomimbang ◽

Jongil Lim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Functional Fitness

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Higher Levels of Physical Fitness Are Associated with Lower Peak Plantar Pressures in Older Women

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12104119 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 4119

Author(s):

Lovro Štefan ◽

Mario Kasović ◽

Martin Zvonař

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Older Women ◽

Plantar Pressure ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Plantar Pressures ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Fitness Levels

Little is known about how physical fitness is associated with peak plantar pressures in older adults. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to explore whether higher physical fitness levels were associated with lower peak plantar pressures in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 120 older women aged ≥60 years. To assess the level of peak plantar pressure, we used a Zebris plantar pressure platform. To estimate the level of physical fitness, a senior fitness test battery was used. To calculate the associations between the level of physical fitness and peak plantar pressures beneath the different foot regions (forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot), we used generalized estimating equations with a linear regression model. In unadjusted models, higher physical fitness levels were associated with lower peak plantar pressures. When we adjusted for chronological age, the risk of falls and the presence of foot pain, higher physical fitness levels remained associated with lower peak plantar pressures. Our study shows that higher levels of physical fitness are associated with lower peak plantar pressures, even after adjusting for several potential covariates.

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