Relationships between footedness and aging on postural control: Evidence from the Yakumo study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Postural maintenance is crucial for preventing falls, especially in aging populations.
• Footedness (dominant foot) may influence postural control strategies.
• Aging is associated with declines in sensorimotor functions, potentially affecting balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of footedness and age on postural maintenance.
• To compare the center of pressure (COP) deviation ratios between different age and footedness groups.
• To identify specific risk factors for impaired balance in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a postural maintenance task with a stabilometer to measure center of pressure (COP) trajectories.
• Analyzed COP deviation area ratios under open-eye versus closed-eye conditions.
• Compared data from 193 right-footers and 32 left-footers across middle-aged and old-aged groups.

Main Results:

• Older left-footers demonstrated a significantly larger COP deviation ratio compared to middle-aged left-footers.
• Left-footers exhibited greater COP deviation in the lateral direction than in the posterior/anterior direction.
• These findings indicate a weaker postural maintenance function in older left-footed adults.

Conclusions:

• Older adults who are left-footed possess diminished postural maintenance capabilities.
• Left-footedness, particularly in older age, is associated with increased postural instability.
• Health professionals should consider left-handedness as a potential risk factor for falls in the elderly.