The comparison of postural balance in elderly active, sedentary and with vestibulopathy.

Introduction: To be sedentary and have any disease with regard to vestibular pathology can compromise the performance of the postural control and increases the risk of falls. Objective: This study aimed to compare the postural control of elderly active, sedentary and vestibular pathology. Methods: The sample consisted of 45 elderly separated according to their current health condition: elderly active, sedentary and with vestibulopathy. The postural balance tests were performed in bipedal support, eyes open and the variables measured by the force platform were the center of pressure and average speeds of postural sway in the directions, anteroposterior (A/P) and medial-lateral (M/L). Results: Elderly with vestibulopathy presented significantly poorer postural balance (P <0.05) that active and sedentary group, with large size effect: in mean d >0.80. Conclusion: Elderly with vestibulopathy have poor postural balance that elderly active and sedentary. These findings have any implications for programs of rehabilitation for vestibular disorders.

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Influence of the length of institutionalization on older adults' postural balance and risk of falls: a transversal study

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0104-1169.3515.2463 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 645-653 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Wagner Oliveira Batista ◽

Edmundo de Drummond Alves Junior ◽

Flávia Porto ◽

Fabio Dutra Pereira ◽

Rosimere Ferreira Santana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Postural Control ◽

Postural Balance ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Berg Balance Scale ◽

Clinical Tests ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Elliptical Area ◽

Professional Model ◽

Transversal Study

OBJECTIVE: to ascertain the influence of the length of institutionalization on older adults' balance and risk of falls.METHOD: to evaluate the risk of falls, the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Get Up and Go test were used; and for measuring postural balance, static stabilometry was used, with acquisition of the elliptical area of 95% and mean velocities on the x and y axes of center of pressure displacement. Parametric and nonparametric measures of association and comparison (α<0.05) were used.RESULTS: there was no significant correlation between the length of institutionalization and the tests for evaluation of risk of falling, neither was there difference between groups and within subgroups, stratified by length of institutionalization and age. In the stabilometric measurements, there was a negative correlation between the parameters analyzed and the length of institutionalization, and difference between groups and within subgroups.CONCLUSION: this study's results point to the difficulty of undertaking postural control tasks, showing a leveling below the clinical tests' reference scores. In the stabilometric behavior, one should note the reduction of the parameters as the length of institutionalization increases, contradicting the assumptions. This study's results offer support for the development of a multi-professional model for intervention with the postural control and balance of older adults living in homes for the aged.

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Characteristics of Standing Postural Control in Women under Additional Load

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17020490 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 490

Author(s):

Bożena Wojciechowska-Maszkowska ◽

Dorota Borzucka

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Stability Control ◽

Standing Posture ◽

Additional Load ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Heavy Loads ◽

Load Conditions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of additional load on postural-stability control in young women. To evaluate postural control in the 34 women in this study (mean age, 20.8 years), we measured postural sway (center of pressure, COP) in a neutral stance (with eyes open) in three trials of 30 s each. Three load conditions were used in the study: 0, 14, and 30 kg. In analysis, we used three COP parameters, variability (linear), mean sway velocity (linear), and entropy (nonlinear). Results suggested that a considerable load on a young woman’s body (approximately 48% of body weight) had significant influence on stability. Specifically, heavy loads triggered random movements, increased the dynamics of postural-stability control, and required more attention to control standing posture. The results of our study indicate that inferior postural control mainly results from insufficient experience in lifting such a load.

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Postural Sway in Older Patients with Sagittal Imbalance and Young Adults during Local Vibratory Proprioceptive Stimulation

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9020210 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 210

Author(s):

Tadashi Ito ◽

Yoshihito Sakai ◽

Kazunori Yamazaki ◽

Yohei Ito ◽

Keitaro Kawai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Postural Control ◽

Older Patients ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Sagittal Imbalance ◽

Preventative Measures ◽

Proprioceptive Stimulation ◽

Risk Of Falls

This study aimed to assess differences in somatosensory control strategies between older patients with sagittal imbalance and young adults during postural tasks. The center of pressure displacement in 27 older patients with sagittal imbalance and 27 young adults was determined upon standing blindfolded on a balance board. Vibratory stimulation at 56 to 100 Hz was applied bilaterally to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (GS) and lumbar multifidus to evaluate the contributions of proprioceptive signals to postural control. Data of older patients and young adults were compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test or independent sample t-tests. Compared with the young adults, the older patients were significantly more reliant on the GS (p < 0.005) for their postural control and showed a higher relative proprioceptive weighting ratio (RPW) (p = 0.038). The postural strategy adopted by the older patients depended on the level of proprioceptive stimulation applied to the GS, and the postural control strategy of the ankle correlated with RPW. Overall, this study identifies RPW as a novel measure of postural strategy in older patients with sagittal imbalance and provides an understanding of strategies used to maintain balance, which may assist in developing preventative measures to reduce the risk of falls.

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The effect of age, sex and a firm-textured surface on postural control

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-021-06063-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Francesco Palazzo ◽

Alessandra Nardi ◽

Niloofar Lamouchideli ◽

Alfio Caronti ◽

Anas Alashram ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Sensory System ◽

The Body ◽

Quiet Standing ◽

Textured Surface ◽

Textured Surfaces ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Eyes Open

AbstractIn previous studies, the influence of plantar sensation has been examined using various textured surfaces with different stiffness materials to assess static balance. This study investigated the effects of a Firm Textured Surface (FTS) along with age and sex-related influences on postural control under different visual conditions. Forty subjects (20 elderly, 10 males, mean age 68.30, 10 females, mean age 68.00, and 20 young people, 10 males, mean age 25.45, 10 females, mean age 27.30) participated in this study maintained a quiet standing on FTS, foam and firm surfaces with eyes open and closed. The center of pressure displacement (CoPDISP), CoP velocity (CoPVEL), and sway velocity of the CoP in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) direction (VA/P and VM/L) were measured. FTS was associated with lower postural sway measures in both the groups with eyes open and closed. However, the foam surface showed the worst results in all postural parameters under all experimental conditions. Separate four-way ANOVAs were applied to each dependent variable. The main effects of surface (p < 0.0001), vision (p < 0.0001) and age (p < 0.0001 for CoPDISP, CoPVEL and VA/P; p = 0.0003 for VM/L) were significant in each of the four fitted models. Sex was never significant, either as a main effect or an interaction with other experimental factors. Eyes open were able to reduce the negative effects of the foam surfaces but without vision the proprioceptive sensory system cues of the body state become more important for maintaining balance. A good stimulation with rigid texture should be considered as relief to reduce the physiological-related decline of afferent information with age.

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Static postural control assessment during pregnancy

Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior ◽

10.20338/bjmb.v9i1.44 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ana Silvia Moccellin ◽

Fernanda G. S. A. Nora ◽

Paula H. L. Costa ◽

Patricia Driusso

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Force Plate ◽

Pubic Symphysis ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Eyes Open

The hormonal and anatomic changes during pregnancy affect the musculoskeletal system and may lead to instability of static postural control and increased risk of falls. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in static postural control during the three trimesters of pregnancy, using variables derived from the center of pressure. This is a descriptive study in which posturographic tests were applied in four still standing positions, for three trials, with a combination of different visual conditions (eyes open - EO/eyes closed - EC) and support base configurations on 20 non-pregnant women (C) and 13 pregnant women during the gestational period (G1, G2 and G3). For static postural control assessment, a force plate (BertecÂ®) was used, and the variables analyzed were statokinesigram area, displacement amplitude, displacement velocity and sway frequency. The results demonstrate that, early in pregnancy, the woman's body seems to already change postural control, probably due to increased mobility of the sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis caused by hormonal factors, and during the trimesters there is a decrease in postural stability, observed as an increase in the elliptical areas, amplitudes of center of pressure displacement and velocity of center of pressure displacement.

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Static postural control assessment during pregnancy

Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior ◽

10.20338/bjmb.2015-0004 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ana Silvia Moccellin ◽

Fernanda G. S. A. Nora ◽

Paula H. L. Costa ◽

Patricia Driusso

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Force Plate ◽

Pubic Symphysis ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Eyes Open

<p>The hormonal and anatomic changes during pregnancy affect the musculoskeletal system and may lead to instability of static postural control and increased risk of falls. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in static postural control during the three trimesters of pregnancy, using variables derived from the center of pressure. This is a descriptive study in which posturographic tests were applied in four still standing positions, for three trials, with a combination of different visual conditions (eyes open - EO/eyes closed - EC) and support base configurations on 20 non-pregnant women (C) and 13 pregnant women during the gestational period (G1, G2 and G3). For static postural control assessment, a force plate (Bertec®) was used, and the variables analyzed were statokinesigram area, displacement amplitude, displacement velocity and sway frequency. The results demonstrate that, early in pregnancy, the woman's body seems to already change postural control, probably due to increased mobility of the sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis caused by hormonal factors, and during the trimesters there is a decrease in postural stability, observed as an increase in the elliptical areas, amplitudes of center of pressure displacement and velocity of center of pressure displacement.</p>

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Nociceptive capacity of plantar irritating stimulus reduction influences postural control in children, teenagers, and adults.

Manual Therapy Posturology & Rehabilitation Journal ◽

10.17784/mtprehabjournal.2015.13.298 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 298 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Janin Marc ◽

Lisandro Antonio Ceci ◽

Rodolfo Borges Parreira

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Postural Balance ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Sensory Information ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Group ◽

Sensory Organization ◽

Pressure Area ◽

Adolescents And Adults ◽

Eyes Open

Introduction: Sensory information from vestibular, visual, proprioception, and feet contribute on postural control. Plantar afferent contribution comes from the tactile and nociceptive cues of the plantar sole. Nociceptive capacity of plantar irritating stimulus (NCPIS) is one of the foot problems that induce nociception. Objective: Was to determine the postural impact of sensory input flow modifications induced by foam in people with and without nociceptive plantar irritating stimuli in different ages (children, adolescents, and adults). Method: 120 participants with (NP) and X without (Ct) NCPIS in different age group were evaluated (20 subjects in each age group and conditions). Postural balance assessment was performed during two-legged stance test using a force platform. Postural recoding was performed with eyes open in two conditions: on a hard surface and on a foam surface. The postural balance parameter analyzed was center of pressure area and variance of speed. Results: Area and variance of speed in control group increased, whereas decreased in NP subjects. No differences were observed for mean speed. In the Ct group, nociceptor and mechanoreceptor afferent sensations on foam induced postural variation with more oscillations (area and speed). Conclusion: NCPIS influenced postural control, and this foam neutralization of afferent nociception induced a new sensory organization. Foam surface imitated afferent plantar sensory information, induced postural variation as measured by CoP parameters with increasing postural control in subjects without NCIPS and decreasing postural control in subjects with NCPIS.

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Changes in Posture Following a Single Session of Long-Duration Water Immersion

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.2017-0181 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 435-441

Author(s):

Stephen M. Glass ◽

Christopher K. Rhea ◽

Matthew W. Wittstein ◽

Scott E. Ross ◽

John P. Florian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Specific Pattern ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Stable Surface ◽

Visual Inputs ◽

Long Duration ◽

Eyes Open

Transitioning between different sensory environments is known to affect sensorimotor function and postural control. Water immersion presents a novel environmental stimulus common to many professional and recreational pursuits, but is not well-studied with regard to its sensorimotor effects upon transitioning back to land. The authors investigated the effects of long-duration water immersion on terrestrial postural control outcomes in veteran divers. Eleven healthy men completed a 6-hour thermoneutral pool dive (4.57 m) breathing diver air. Center of pressure was observed before and 15 minutes after the dive under 4 conditions: (1) eyes open/stable surface (Open-Stable); (2) eyes open/foam surface (Open-Foam); (3) eyes closed/stable surface (Closed-Stable); and (4) eyes closed/foam surface (Closed-Foam). Postdive decreases in postural sway were observed in all testing conditions except for Open-Stable. The specific pattern of center of pressure changes in the postdive window is consistent with (1) a stiffening/overregulation of the ankle strategy during Open-Foam, Closed-Stable, and Closed-Foam or (2) acute upweighting of vestibular input along with downweighting of somatosensory, proprioceptive, and visual inputs. Thus, our findings suggest that postimmersion decreases in postural sway may have been driven by changes in weighting of sensory inputs and associated changes in balance strategy following adaptation to the aquatic environment.

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Maximal stability limits in adolescents with Tourette syndrome

Journal of Advanced Pediatrics and Child Health ◽

10.29328/journal.japch.1001024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 013-022

Author(s):

Blanchet Mariève ◽

Prince François ◽

Lemay Martin ◽

Chouinard Sylvain ◽

Messier Julie

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Sensory Information ◽

Control Group ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Stability Limits

We explored if adolescents with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) had functional postural control impairments and how these deficits are linked to a disturbance in the processing and integration of sensory information. We evaluated the displacements of the center of pressure (COP) during maximal leaning in four directions (forward, backward, rightward, leftward) and under three sensory conditions (eyes open, eyes closed, eyes closed standing on foam). GTS adolescents showed deficits in postural stability and in lateral postural adjustments but they had similar maximal COP excursion than the control group. The postural performance of the GTS group was poorer in the eyes open condition (time to phase 1 onset, max-mean COP). Moreover, they displayed a poorer ability to maintain the maximum leaning position under the eyes open condition during mediolateral leaning tasks. By contrast, during forward leaning, they showed larger min-max ranges than control subjects while standing on the foam with the eyes closed. Together, these findings support the idea that GTS produces subclinical postural control deficits. Importantly, our results suggest that postural control disorders in GTS are highly sensitive to voluntary postural leaning tasks which have high demand for multimodal sensory integration.

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Effect of induced hyperopia on fall risk and Fourier transformation of postural sway

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8329 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e8329 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Byeong-Yeon Moon ◽

Jae Hyeok Choi ◽

Dong-Sik Yu ◽

Sang-Yeob Kim

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Fourier Transformation ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Risk Index ◽

Refractive Errors ◽

Body Balance ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Full Correction

Background and Purpose Fall accidents are a social challenge in Korea and elsewhere. Most previous studies have focused on the effects of reduced visual acuity due to myopia on falls and body balance. The objective of this study was to investigate whether uncorrected hyperopia was a major risk factor for falls and to establish whether the risk of falls was absolutely correlated with visual acuity. Methods Fifty-one young subjects with a mean age of 22.75 ± 2.13 years were enrolled in this study. To induce hyperopic and myopic refractive errors, spherical lenses of ±1.0–6.0 D (1.0 D stepwise) were used. Under each induced condition, fall risk index and sway power were assessed via Fourier transformation of postural sway using a TETRAX system. Results The fall risk index for eyes-closed was significantly greater than that of eyes-open with full correction (t = −5.876, p < 0.05). The fall risk index increased significantly from hyperopia induced with −4.0 D lenses (with visual acuity of 0.69 ± 0.32) compared to eyes-open with full correction (F = 3.213, p < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in the induced myopia conditions, despite a drastic decline in decimal visual acuity. Sway power increased significantly in the low-to-medium frequency band derived from the peripheral vestibular system when hyperopia was induced. A significant difference was detected in hyperopia induced with −6.0 D lenses compared to eyes-open with full correction (F = 4.981, p = 0.017). Conclusion An uncorrected hyperopia rather than myopia may increase the risk of falls, although eyes may show normal visual acuity due to the inherent accommodation mechanism. Our findings suggest that the corrected state of refractive errors is more important than the level of visual acuity as the criteria for appropriate visual input, which contributes to stable posture. Therefore, clinicians should consider the refractive condition, especially the characteristics of hyperopia, when analyzing body balance, and appropriate correction of uncorrected hyperopia to prevent falls.

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