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Age associated differences in postural equilibrium control: a comparison between EQscore and minimum time to contact
Katharine E Forth1, E Jeffrey Metter, William H Paloski
1National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Gait & Posture
|February 9, 2006
Summary
Time to contact (TTC) better assesses balance control than the equilibrium score (EQscore), especially in older adults. TTC reveals age-related stability changes and fall risks missed by EQscore, offering a more dynamic measure of postural stability.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Aging increases postural instability, leading to falls, hip fractures, and frailty.
- Current balance assessment often uses the equilibrium score (EQscore), measuring center-of-mass (COM) sway.
- An alternative approach, time to contact (TTC), evaluates balance based on COM proximity to a stability margin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of EQscore and TTC in assessing balance control across different age groups.
- To determine if TTC offers a more sensitive measure of age-related postural instability than EQscore.
- To investigate the relationship between balance assessment methods and fall incidence.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 155 generally healthy participants aged 20s-80s from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
- Assessed balance control using both EQscore and TTC methods under various conditions (e.g., eyes open/closed).
- Analyzed differences in detected stability variations and age-related changes between the two methods.
Main Results:
- TTC detected significant differences between eyes open and closed conditions, which EQscore did not.
- TTC identified age-related stability threats not apparent with EQscore.
- TTC differentiated between participants who fell and those who maintained balance during challenging tests.
Conclusions:
- The EQscore may not fully capture dynamic balance control mechanisms.
- TTC provides a more accurate and sensitive assessment of postural stability and functional ability, incorporating velocity.
- TTC is a promising method for evaluating dynamic balance control and fall risk across the adult lifespan.