Age-gender differences in the postural sway during squat and stand-up movement

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Gerontology
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Elderly females experience higher fall incidence than males.
• Previous research focused on static postural sway, neglecting dynamic sway gender differences.
• Dynamic balance control is crucial for daily activities and fall prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of age and gender on postural sway during dynamic squat-to-stand movements.
• To identify gender-specific age-related changes in dynamic balance.
• To explore the relationship between dynamic postural sway and fall risk in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• 124 participants (young and elderly) performed dynamic squat-to-stand movements.
• Center of Pressure (COP) data was collected using a force platform.
• Two-way ANOVA analyzed age and gender effects on COP sway (anteroposterior and mediolateral), normalized by height.

Main Results:

• Significant age-gender interaction observed for most COP sway measures (p<0.05).
• COP sway increased with age exclusively in females.
• Normalized COP sway in both directions increased with age significantly only in women, indicating greater sway in elderly females than males.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic postural sway increases with age in women but not in men.
• Elderly women exhibit greater dynamic postural sway than elderly men, potentially contributing to their higher fall rates.
• These findings underscore the importance of gender-specific assessments for dynamic balance and fall prevention strategies in older adults.