Age‐Related Difference in Postural Control During Recovery from Forward and Backward Falls

Abstract

Decreased reactive postural responses in elderly adults may place them at increased risk for falls and related injuries (30–40% of adults over 65 fall each year). To determine age‐related differences in reactive postural responses, we utilized the tether‐release method to evaluate kinematic variables in healthy young (n=10, mean age=25.4±5.34) and healthy elderly subjects (n=10, mean age=66.8±6.29). All subjects were instrumented and data were collected in a motion analysis lab during recovery from anterior and posterior perturbations. Kinematic dependent variables included reaction time, step length, step time, peak center of mass (COM) velocity, and recovery time. Each subject's first 3 successful trials were averaged and compared between groups using separate Mann‐Whitney U Tests (p≤0.01). No differences were found between groups for recovery from anterior perturbations. However, during posterior perturbations, healthy elderly subjects exhibited shorter step length (p=.006), slower peak COM velocity (p=.01), and longer recovery time (p=.01) compared to young subjects. These results suggest that slowness of movement, coupled with prolonged recovery time, may impair the ability of elderly adults to regain stability after posterior perturbations. Further examination of kinematic and kinetic variables is important to determine specific deficiencies contributing to falls in the elderly.Grant Funding Source: University of Utah College of Health