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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
07:19
A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
Published on: March 19, 2020
Reaching upward is more challenging to dynamic balance than reaching forward
Brandi S Row1, Peter R Cavanagh
1The Center for Locomotion Studies, Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. Brandi.Row@wwu.edu
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|December 8, 2006
Summary
Upward reach tests better detect functional decline in older adults than forward reach tests. Older adults show greater balance challenges and reach limitations during upward movements, highlighting its utility for assessing age-related functional capacity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Functional Mobility
Background:
- Older adults report lower confidence in upward reach compared to forward reach.
- Forward reach tests may not adequately identify functional deficits impacting daily activities in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare upward and forward reach performance in young and older adults.
- To assess the influence of age, sex, balance confidence, anthropometrics, and center of pressure on reach performance.
- To determine if upward reach tests are more sensitive to age-related functional decline.
Main Methods:
- Administered novel upward and forward reach tests to young and older adults.
- Measured reach distance, normalized to stature and adjusted for foot length.
- Calculated anterior safety margin and assessed balance confidence and anthropometric contributions.
Main Results:
- Upward reach challenged dynamic balance more than forward reach for all participants.
- Older adults exhibited greater limitations in reach distance and balance during upward reach.
- Anthropometric variables and balance confidence significantly influenced upward reach performance in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Upward reach tests may be superior to forward reach tests for identifying early functional decline in older adults.
- Upward reach performance is influenced by balance confidence and anthropometric factors in older individuals.
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