A contribuição da informação visual exproprioceptiva e da altura do assento no controle da ação de sentar em indivíduos jovens e idosos

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the contribution of both exproprioceptive visual information and seat height in the control of stand-to-sit movement in young and older adults. Twelve older and 11 young individuals were invited to sit down on a chair under two seat heights (100% and 80% of the knee-ground distance) and under two visual conditions (with and without the availability of exproprioceptive visual information). Participants wore special goggles that reduced the size of the lower visual field. Participants performed the stand-to-sit movement with their feet positioned on a forceplate. The results allowed for the conclusion that the exproprioceptive visual information availability affected differently the way young and older adults control the stand-to-sit movement. On the other hand, seat height manipulation resulted in similar strategies by young and older individuals. Yet, older individuals exhibited a more conservative behavior than young adults while performing the stand-to-sit movement.