Abstract
Stair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender and age-related differences in balance control during and after stair descent on a foam mat. Forty-seven older adults (70% women) and 38 young adults (58% women) performed a descent from one step onto a foam mat. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) centre of pressure velocity (CoP) and standard deviation of the CoP sway were investigated during stair descent and restabilization. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the main effects of age for the first 5 s of restabilization. Older women exhibited significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity in both directions compared to the younger individuals (CoP SDAP5, 55%; CoP SDML5, 30%; CoP VAP5, 106%; CoP VML5, 75%). Men achieved significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity only in the AP direction compared to their younger counterparts (CoP SDAP5, 50% and CoP VAP5, 79%). These findings suggest that with advancing age, men are at higher risk of forward falls, whereas women are at higher risk of forward and sideways falls.
Highlights
The ability to descend stair once or repeatedly is an essential daily locomotion and concurrently indicator of functional mobility and independence in older adults [1,2,3]
This study investigated gender-and age-related differences in stair descent balance control and restabilization
Women presented higher values of centre of pressure velocity (CoP) sway and velocity in both directions with age, while men achieved higher values of CoP sway and velocity only in the AP direction compared to their younger counterparts
Summary
The ability to descend stair once or repeatedly is an essential daily locomotion and concurrently indicator of functional mobility and independence in older adults [1,2,3]. Compared to other frequent daily activities such as walking or reaching the objects, a stair descent imposes higher neuromuscular and sensorimotor demand for controlling the centre of mass during movement [1,4]. With age-related alterations to the neuromuscular and sensorimotor systems, this transition movement can become progressively more demanding to the extent that stair descent becomes a challenging and hazardous task for many older adults, even for those in apparently good state of health and physical fitness [5,6]. An impaired ability to respond quickly to balance disturbances during stair descent, predisposes older adults to a higher incidence of falls [6].
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