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Challenging stability limits in old and young individuals with a functional reaching task
Lisa Spreitzer1, Jan Perkins, Ksenia I Ustinova
1Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, Michigan, USA.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|December 21, 2012
Summary
Adding a challenge to a reach test improved limit of stability (LOS) similarly in young and old adults. However, older adults utilized smaller percentages of their LOS, highlighting its importance in rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Assessing balance and stability is crucial for fall prevention in older adults.
- Functional reach tests are commonly used to evaluate balance, but may not fully capture stability limits.
- The limit of stability (LOS) represents the boundary of the base of support an individual can maintain without losing balance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a challenging reach task on the limit of stability (LOS) in young and older adults.
- To compare the effectiveness of a functional reach challenge test in enhancing LOS across different age groups.
- To determine if age influences the utilization of LOS during challenging functional movements.
Main Methods:
- 15 young (mean age 24) and 15 older (mean age 70) adults participated.
- Participants performed a modified functional reach test and a functional reach challenge test involving reaching for additional targets.
- Motion analysis using infrared markers and force plates quantified center of pressure displacement and LOS.
Main Results:
- Younger participants achieved greater reach distances than older participants in both tests.
- No significant differences were found in the absolute increase in reach distance with the added challenge between age groups.
- Both groups increased their center of pressure displacement and utilized a larger percentage of their anatomic stability allowance during the challenge test.
Conclusions:
- A functional reach challenge test similarly improved reaching ability and LOS in both young and older adults.
- Older adults used a smaller absolute percentage of their LOS compared to younger adults.
- Understanding LOS flexibility is vital for rehabilitation professionals to design effective balance and stability training exercises.
