Different visual manipulations have similar effects on quasi-static and dynamic balance responses of young and older people

Background Studies demonstrated that the older adults can be more susceptible to balance instability after acute visual manipulation. There are different manipulation approaches used to investigate the importance of visual inputs on balance, e.g., eyes closed and blackout glasses. However, there is evidence that eyes open versus eyes closed results in a different organization of human brain functional networks. It is, however, unclear how different visual manipulations affect balance, and whether such effects differ between young and elderly persons. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether different visual manipulation approaches affect quasi-static and dynamic balance responses differently, and to investigate whether balance responses of young and older adults are affected differently by these various visual conditions. Methods Thirty-six healthy participants (20 young and 16 older adults) performed balance tests (quasi-static and unexpected perturbations) under four visual conditions: Eyes Open, Eyes Closed, Blackout Glasses, and Dark Room. Center of pressure (CoP) and muscle activation (EMG) were quantified. Results As expected, visual deprivation resulted in larger CoP excursions and higher muscle activations during balance tests for all participants. Surprisingly, the visual manipulation approach did not influence balance control in either group. Furthermore, quasi-static and dynamic balance control did not differ between young or older adults. The visual system plays an important role in balance control, however, similarly for both young and older adults. Different visual deprivation approaches did not influence balance results, meaning our results are comparable between participants of different ages. Further studies should investigate whether a critical illumination level may elicit different postural responses between young and older adults.

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Reactive Postural Responses to Continuous Yaw Perturbations in Healthy Humans: The Effect of Aging

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20010063 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 63 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ilaria Mileti ◽

Juri Taborri ◽

Stefano Rossi ◽

Zaccaria Del Prete ◽

Marco Paoloni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Balance Control ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Body Segments ◽

Healthy Humans ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Age Related ◽

Postural Responses ◽

Mass Displacement

Maintaining balance stability while turning in a quasi-static stance and/or in dynamic motion requires proper recovery mechanisms to manage sudden center-of-mass displacement. Furthermore, falls during turning are among the main concerns of community-dwelling elderly population. This study investigates the effect of aging on reactive postural responses to continuous yaw perturbations on a cohort of 10 young adults (mean age 28 ± 3 years old) and 10 older adults (mean age 61 ± 4 years old). Subjects underwent external continuous yaw perturbations provided by the RotoBit1D platform. Different conditions of visual feedback (eyes opened and eyes closed) and perturbation intensity, i.e., sinusoidal rotations on the horizontal plane at different frequencies (0.2 Hz and 0.3 Hz), were applied. Kinematics of axial body segments was gathered using three inertial measurement units. In order to measure reactive postural responses, we measured body-absolute and joint absolute rotations, center-of-mass displacement, body sway, and inter-joint coordination. Older adults showed significant reduction in horizontal rotations of body segments and joints, as well as in center-of-mass displacement. Furthermore, older adults manifested a greater variability in reactive postural responses than younger adults. The abnormal reactive postural responses observed in older adults might contribute to the well-known age-related difficulty in dealing with balance control during turning.

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Comparison of static and dynamic balance measurements among chronic and episodic migraine patients

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2020-0319 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (5) ◽

pp. 399-406

Author(s):

Seyhan Dumanlidağ ◽

Aysel Milanlioğlu

Keyword(s):

Chronic Migraine ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Episodic Migraine ◽

Control Group ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Closed Area ◽

Balance Tests ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Eyes Open

ABSTRACT Background: Migraine is one of the most frequent and incapacitating headaches, with a high degree of impairment of balance control and postural stability. Objective: To investigate the effects of episodic and chronic migraine on postural balance through using static and dynamic balance tests. Methods: The study included 32 chronic and 36 episodic migraine patients and a control group of 36 healthy volunteers. Right/left single-leg static and dynamic balance tests were performed in each group with eyes open and closed using a posturographic balance platform (Techno-body Prokin). Results: No significant difference was found among episodic and chronic migraine patients and control subjects with regard to eyes-open and eyes-closed area values (eyes-open area values: p=0.559, p=0.414 and p=0.906; eyes-closed area values: p=0.740, p=0.241 and p=0.093, respectively). However, the area values were significantly higher in episodic and chronic migraine patients than in the control group, which indicates that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Perimeter values were relatively higher which supports the idea that migraine patients have lower balance performance. Additionally, the average number of laps was significantly lower among migraine patients than in the control group, which also implies that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Conclusion: Although no significant difference was detected between chronic and episodic migraine patients and the control group and between chronic and episodic migraine patients with regard to balance performance, chronic migraine patients seemed to have relatively lower performance than episodic migraine patients. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed, to investigate the relationship between these parameters and balance.

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Construct Validity of the Assessment of Balance in Children Who Are Developing Typically and in Children With Hearing Impairments

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20100080 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 90 (12) ◽

pp. 1783-1794 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Alexandra De Kegel ◽

Inge Dhooge ◽

Wim Peersman ◽

Johan Rijckaert ◽

Tina Baetens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Motor Development ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Sensory Information ◽

Clinical Test ◽

Hearing Impairments ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Balance Tests ◽

Eyes Open

Background Children with hearing impairments have a higher risk for deficits in balance and gross motor skills compared with children who are developing typically. As balance is a fundamental ability for the motor development of children, a valid and reliable assessment to identify weaknesses in balance is crucial. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the construct validity of posturography and clinical balance tests in children with hearing impairments and in children who are developing typically. Methods The study involved 53 children with typical development and 23 children with hearing impairments who were between 6 and 12 years of age and without neuromotor or orthopedic disorders. All participants completed 3 posturography tests (modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance [mCTSIB], unilateral stance, and tandem stance) and 4 clinical balance tests (one-leg stance with eyes open and with eyes closed, balance beam walking, and one-leg hopping). Results Three conditions of the mCTSIB, unilateral stance, and 2 clinical balance tests were able to distinguish significantly between the 2 groups. Children with hearing impairments showed more difficulties in balance tasks compared with children who were developing typically when 1 or 2 types of sensory information were eliminated or disturbed. The study showed only low to moderate correlations among the different methods of evaluating balance. Conclusions Clinical balance tests and posturography offer different but complementary information. An assessment protocol for balance consisting of posturography and clinical balance tasks is proposed. Static and dynamic balance abilities could not be differentiated and seem not to be a valid dichotomy.

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Differential Effects of Perturbation Magnitude on Reactive Balance Control in Young Sedentary Adults

Motor Control ◽

10.1123/mc.2020-0097 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Erika Zemková ◽

Alena Cepková ◽

José M. Muyor

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Balance Control ◽

Force Plate ◽

Time To Peak ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Postural Responses ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Load Release ◽

Postural Perturbations

This study investigates postural responses to unexpected perturbations induced by a load release of different weights. Groups of 26 men (age 22.6 ± 2.4 years, height 178.0 ± 9.1 cm, and body mass 86.9 ± 11.5 kg) and 21 women (age 21.9 ± 2.7 years, height 168.8 ± 6.8 cm, and body mass 65.3 ± 8.7 kg) underwent load-triggered postural perturbations by 1 and 2 kg while standing on a force plate with either eyes open or eyes closed. Postural perturbations induced by a heavier load, representing about 2% and 3% of body weight in men and women, respectively, led to significantly higher peak anterior and peak posterior center of pressure displacements when compared with a lighter load (29.6% and 45.4%, respectively) both with eyes open (36.9%) and closed (42.1%). Their values were significantly lower in men than women only when a higher load was used (∼25%). However, there were no significant differences in time to peak anterior and posterior center of pressure displacements. These findings indicate that heavier load-induced postural perturbations are greater in women than men regardless of visual conditions. This underlines the importance of loading dose in the magnitude of postural responses to externally induced perturbations.

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Balance assessment in healthy children and adolescents aged 6–18 years based on six tests collected on AMTI AccuSway force platform

Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics ◽

10.37190/abb-01497-2019-04 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Krzysztof Graff ◽

Ewa Szczerbik ◽

Małgorzata Kalinowska ◽

Maciej Jaworski ◽

Małgorzata Syczewska

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

The Body ◽

Force Platform ◽

Quiet Standing ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Balance Tests ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Visual Conditions

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the results of six balance tests collected on AMTI AccuSway Plus ACS force platform between healthy female and male children and adolescents. We also searched for possible correlation of the balance measures with subjects’ age. Methods: 228 healthy 6- to 18-year-old subjects (111 boys and 117 girls) participated in the study. Six balance tests were performed with the use of AMTI AccuSway Plus ACS platform: quiet standing for 30s, maximal voluntary sways of the body in the sagittal plane (anterior-posterior – AP test) for 30 s, and in the frontal plane (left-right – ML test) for 30s. All tests were performed in two conditions: eyes open and eyes closed. Results: During quiet standing with eyes open, most balance measures were lower in girls (p < 0.05). In AP and ML tests with eyes open, a few balance parameters were different between boys and girls (p < 0.05). In quiet standing, AP and ML tests with eyes closed, there were no between-gender differences (p > 0.05). In quiet standing with eyes open and closed most balance parameters were negatively correlated with age (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Quiet standing postural sway characteristics depended on gender under normal visual conditions and it was similar in boys and girls under visual deprivation conditions. The vision was differently used by females and males in balance tasks. Static postural stability improved with age regardless of visual conditions.

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Lighten Up! Postural Instructions Affect Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz056 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Rajal G Cohen ◽

Jason L Baer ◽

Ramyaa Ravichandra ◽

Daniel Kral ◽

Craig McGowan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Balance Control ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Quiet Standing ◽

Upright Posture ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Eyes Open

Abstract Background and Objectives Increased fall risk in older adults is associated with declining balance. Previous work showed that brief postural instructions can affect balance control in older adults with Parkinson’s disease. Here, we assessed the effects of brief instructions on static and dynamic balance in healthy older adults. Research Design and Methods Nineteen participants practiced three sets of instructions, then attempted to implement each instructional set during: (1) quiet standing on foam for 30 s with eyes open; (2) a 3-s foot lift. “Light” instructions relied on principles of reducing excess tension while encouraging length. “Effortful” instructions relied on popular concepts of effortful posture correction. “Relax” instructions encouraged minimization of effort. We measured kinematics and muscle activity. Results During quiet stance, Effortful instructions increased mediolateral jerk and path length. In the foot lift task, Light instructions led to the longest foot-in-air duration and the smallest anteroposterior variability of the center of mass, Relax instructions led to the farthest forward head position, and Effortful instructions led to the highest activity in torso muscles. Discussion and Implications Thinking of upright posture as effortless may reduce excessive co-contractions and improve static and dynamic balance, while thinking of upright posture as inherently effortful may make balance worse. This may partly account for the benefits of embodied mindfulness practices such as tai chi and Alexander technique for balance in older adults. Pending larger-scale replication, this discovery may enable physiotherapists and teachers of dance, exercise, and martial arts to improve balance and reduce fall risk in their older students and clients simply by modifying how they talk about posture.

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Applying the Minimal Detectable Change of a Static and Dynamic Balance Test Using a Portable Stabilometric Platform to Individually Assess Patients with Balance Disorders

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8040402 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 402 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juan De la Torre ◽

Javier Marin ◽

Marco Polo ◽

José J. Marín

Keyword(s):

Center Of Pressure ◽

Balance Control ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Static Balance ◽

Minimal Detectable Change ◽

Detectable Change ◽

Balance Test ◽

Balance Disorders ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Specialist Physician

Balance disorders have a high prevalence among elderly people in developed countries, and falls resulting from balance disorders involve high healthcare costs. Therefore, tools and indicators are necessary to assess the response to treatments. Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect relevant changes through minimal detectable change (MDC) values in patients with balance disorders, specifically with vertigo. A test-retest of a static and dynamic balance test was conducted on 34 healthy young volunteer subjects using a portable stabilometric platform. Afterwards, in order to show the MDC applicability, eight patients diagnosed with balance disorders characterized by vertigo of vestibular origin performed the balance test before and after a treatment, contrasting the results with the assessment by a specialist physician. The balance test consisted of four tasks from the Romberg test for static balance control, assessing dynamic postural balance through the limits of stability (LOS). The results obtained in the test-retest show the reproducibility of the system as being similar to or better than those found in the literature. Regarding the static balance variables with the lowest MDC value, we highlight the average velocity of the center of pressure (COP) in all tasks and the root mean square (RMS), the area, and the mediolateral displacement in soft surface, with eyes closed. In LOS, all COP limits and the average speed of the COP and RMS were highlighted. Of the eight patients assessed, an agreement between the specialist physician and the balance test results exists in six of them, and for two of the patients, the specialist physician reported no progression, whereas the balance test showed worsening. Patients showed changes that exceeded the MDC values, and these changes were correlated with the results reported by the specialist physician. We conclude that (at least for these eight patients) certain variables were sufficiently sensitive to detect changes linked to balance progression. This is intended to improve decision making and individualized patient monitoring.

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Eyes-closed vs. eyes-open EEG in young and older adults

International Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.08.915 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 236 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. Barry ◽

Frances M. De Blasio ◽

Adele E. Cave

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Eyes Open

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Response Demands and Blindfolding in the Crossed-Hands Deficit: An Exploration of Reference Frame Conflict

Multisensory Research ◽

10.1163/22134808-00002423 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 465-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Michelle L. Cadieux ◽

David I. Shore

Keyword(s):

Reference Frame ◽

Visual Information ◽

Reference Frames ◽

Internal Reference ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

External Reference ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Temporal Order Judgments ◽

Visual Conditions

Performance on tactile temporal order judgments (TOJs) is impaired when the hands are crossed over the midline. The cause of this effect appears to be tied to the use of an external reference frame, most likely based on visual information. We measured the effect of degrading the external reference frame on the crossed-hand deficit through restriction of visual information across three experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 examined three visual conditions (eyes open–lights on, eyes open–lights off, and eyes closed–lights off) while manipulating response demands; no effect of visual condition was seen. In Experiment 3, response demands were altered to be maximally connected to the internal reference frame and only two visual conditions were tested: eyes open–lights on, eyes closed–lights off. Blindfolded participants had a reduced crossed-hands deficit. Results are discussed in terms of the time needed to recode stimuli from an internal to an external reference frame and the role of conflict between these two reference frames in causing this effect.

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Can Taekwondo Footwear Affect Postural Stability in Young Adults?

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association ◽

10.7547/1030291 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 103 (4) ◽

pp. 291-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shirley S. M. Fong ◽

Shamay S. M. Ng

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Sensory Organization ◽

Two Factors ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Strategy Score ◽

Visual Conditions

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of taekwondo footwear on unilateral stance stability and use of postural control strategies and to determine whether taekwondo footwear influences the somatosensory inputs for postural stability and postural strategies in young adults. Methods: A quasi-randomized crossover trial was conducted on 33 healthy young adults at a university research laboratory. Independent variables, including shoe conditions (shoes on and shoes off) and visual conditions (eyes open and eyes closed), were taken into account. The center of gravity (COG) sway velocity in unilateral stance and the strategy scores in the sensory organization test were measured. No intervention was given to the participants. Results: There was no significant interaction between the two factors (the shoe and visual conditions) for COG sway velocities (P = .447) and strategy scores (P = .320). The shoe condition was not significant in either COG sway velocity (P = .484) or strategy score (P = .126). The visual condition was significant for COG sway velocity (P < .001) but not for strategy score (P = .573). The mean ± SD COG sway velocity with eyes open was 0.7° ± 0.2°/sec and with eyes closed was 1.7° ± 0.6°/sec (P < .001). Conclusions: Taekwondo footwear is unlikely to affect somatosensory inputs and balance performance in young adults. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(4): 291–296, 2013)

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