Interactive Game-Based Platform System for Assessing and Improving Posture Control in the Elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Postural instability and increased fall risk in the elderly are linked to inadequate responses to balance perturbations.
• Reduced capacity to control center of pressure (COP) displacement within the base of support exacerbates fall risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an interactive platform for assessing and training balance control in the elderly.
• To investigate the effectiveness of game-based training on center of pressure (COP) displacement and functional mobility.

Main Methods:

• An interactive system combining force plate evaluation with computerized, game-based training was developed.
• Participants performed maximal voluntary center of pressure (COP) excursions to assess stability limits.
• Training involved a 6-week program focused on multi-directional weight shifting using a COP-controlled game.

Main Results:

• Younger subjects demonstrated superior COP displacement compared to the elderly, particularly in the anterior-posterior direction.
• The experimental group showed significant improvements in medial-lateral COP displacement control and functional mobility outcomes.
• Training effectively challenged stability limits, facilitating dynamic posture control through self-initiated perturbations.

Conclusions:

• The interactive COP-controlled game-based platform effectively enhances dynamic posture control in the elderly.
• The training program shows potential for improving functional mobility and reducing fall risk in older adults.