Clinical Determinants of Biomechanics Platform Measures of Balance in Aged Women

Abstract

The cross-sectional associations between clinical variables and biomechanics platform measures of balance (sway) were determined in a random sample of 50 aged single women living in high rise apartment buildings. A history of falling in the previous year was associated with increased areas of sway. Increased body mass was associated with decreased velocity of sway. Poor near, but not far, visual acuity was associated with increased areas of sway. A postural drop of 10 mmHg or more in diastolic pressure was associated with increased velocity of sway. The associations between these variables and the balance measures persisted after adjustment for age and each other to adjust for potential confounding. Slower hand reaction times and poor hearing were associated with increased areas of sway, but these associations were removed after adjustment for age and near visual acuity. There were no associations between any of the balance measures and postural changes in systolic pressure and heart rate. There were no associations between balance measures and base of support. The observed associations, if causal, can aid in development and testing of effective interventions to improve balance and prevent falls in the elderly.

Visual loss and falls: a review

“…Peripheral visual field occlusion, has been shown to worsen postural stability significantly in older adults. 61 In a sample of 183 older adults, good contrast sensitivity assisted in maintaining balance and stability. 62 The effect of vision on the interaction of muscle activity and movement of the lower limbs during episodes of perturbed balance has also been investigated.…”

Standing balance in hip fracture patients: 20 middle-aged patients compared with 20 healthy subjects

“…These factors may force us to emphasize more balance training after and, preferably, before the fracture. It is generally assumed that the fall that mostly precedes a hip fracture is due to decreased balance capacity (Overstall et al 1977, Fernie et al 1982, Lichtenstein et al 1988. Decreased balance capacity is often referred to as increased postural sway, and has been reported to be influenced by age (Sheldon 1963, Hasselkus and Shambes 1975, Overstall et al 1977, Brocklehurst et al 1982, Ekdahl et al 1989) and sex (Overstall et al 1977, Ekdahl et al 1989.…”

Effects of physical fitness level on postural sway in young children

“…In studies on the elderly, postural sway has been strongly associated with mobility (Berg et al, 1992), falling (Lichtenstein et al, 1988), various disease states (Mauritz et al, 1979;Mathias et al, 1986), and aging (Newell et al, 1997). Postural sway in elderly people can be reduced by raising the level of physical fitness with such exercise or techniques as aerobics, resistance, flexibility, and balance training (Judge et al, 1993;Seidler and Martin, 1997;Messier et al, 2000).…”

“…Postural sway is widely used as an indicator of the maintenance of balance (Lichtenstein et al, 1988;Berg et al, 1992). In studies on the elderly, postural sway has been strongly associated with mobility (Berg et al, 1992), falling (Lichtenstein et al, 1988), various disease states (Mauritz et al, 1979;Mathias et al, 1986), and aging (Newell et al, 1997).…”