[The role of cervical inputs in maintaining equilibrium with regard to age]

The purpose of this experiment is to clarify the role of cervical inputs in maintaining body balance in humans, especially with regard to age. The difference in body sway between with and without neck vibratory stimulation, was analyzed in 83 normal subjects aged 6 to 73. The results showed that the difference between with and without the neck vibratory stimulation was the weakest in those aged from 15 to 44. The difference tended to be stronger in children under 14 years of age and in subjects over 60 years, in contrast to adolescents and nonelderly adults. The neck vibratory stimulation had more effect on forward-backward body sway than on right-left sway, with increasing age. In conclusion, the role of cervical inputs in maintaining equilibrium may change with age, in terms of the quantity and quality of its work capacity function.