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Effect of aging on dynamic postural stability and variability during a multi-directional lean and reach object
Andrew H Huntley1, John L Zettel1, Lori Ann Vallis2
1Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Canada.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|June 22, 2016
Summary
New reach and transport tasks reveal older adults have reduced dynamic stability, not movement variability, during complex movements. These findings may help assess fall risk in seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Older adults often exhibit deficits in dynamic postural stability and movement variability, increasing fall risk.
- Traditional tests like the functional reach test may not fully capture these complex movement deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel "reach and transport object" task for assessing dynamic postural stability and movement variability in older adults.
- To compare older adults' performance on multi-planar, ecologically relevant tasks with younger adults.
Main Methods:
- Healthy young and older adults performed same and multiple elevation object transport tasks at self-paced and fast speeds.
- Whole-body center of mass motion was used to quantify dynamic postural stability and movement variability.
Main Results:
- Older adults showed decreased frontal plane stability during multiple elevation tasks.
- Movement variability was similar between age groups across all tasks and speeds.
- Older adults did not sacrifice maneuverability for stability, contrary to previous findings.
Conclusions:
- Multi-planar, ecologically relevant tasks effectively identify dynamic stability deficits in older adults.
- These tasks show potential for assessing fall risk in older individuals with suspected postural instability.
