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Age-related changes in postural responses to externally- and self-triggered continuous perturbations
Nicoleta Bugnariu1, Heidi Sveistrup
1Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1H 8M5.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|August 9, 2005
Summary
Older adults struggle with balance control during unpredictable external disturbances, unlike younger adults. This impacts their ability to maintain stability and avoid falls, highlighting a need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Maintaining balance is crucial for preventing falls, especially in older adults.
- Postural control relies on anticipatory adjustments to environmental perturbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the balance control strategies of young and older adults under self-triggered and externally-triggered perturbations.
- To investigate age-related differences in postural adjustments during dynamic balance tasks.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving healthy young and older adults.
- Participants stood on a moving platform with sinusoidal oscillations.
- Perturbations were either self-triggered or externally-triggered at increasing frequencies.
Main Results:
- All participants used anticipatory postural adjustments to maintain balance.
- Older adults showed deficits in these adjustments during externally-triggered perturbations.
- Older adults exhibited larger center of pressure (COP) excursions and less safe COP positions.
Conclusions:
- Anticipatory postural adjustments are vital for dynamic balance.
- Older adults' balance control is more vulnerable to unpredictable external disturbances.
- Age-related declines in postural control strategies increase fall risk.