Abstract
The aim of this study was to test whether quiet stance body sway is associated with ankle and knee joint angles in elderly women. Joint angles were measured using a manual goniometer and body sway was assessed using a force platform and four postural tasks with a combination of feet positions and eye condition. The sample (N = 58) showed the following angle values: 102 (100-104) for the tibiotarsal joint, 176 (174-180) for the subtalar joint, 184 (181-187) for knee flexion-extension, and 13 (10-15) for the Q-angle. Q-angle was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with center of foot pressure (CP) displacement area (r = 0.36), anteroposterior (SDy, r = 0.34) and lateral (SDx, r = 0.31) CP standard deviation, and anteroposterior CP range (r = 0.38) during the closed base, eyes opened trial (CBEO). The valgus group showed statistically higher values than the normal and varus groups for SDy (0.56 vs. 0.52 and 0.46 mm; p = 0.02), SDx (0.55 vs. 0.49 and 0.36 mm; p = 0.02) and anteroposterior range (3.32 vs. 2.78 and 2.38 mm; p = 0.01), CBEO. The displacement velocity of the CP was significantly higher for the asymmetric than the symmetric Q-angle group (8.0 vs. 5.3 mm/s - closed base, eyes closed trial). Knee alignment was correlated with measures of body sway in elderly women, but ankle alignment showed no correlation. Knee morphology should be considered an associated factor for quiet stance postural control.
Highlights
Posture control depends on the integration of sensory information from various senses so that appropriate motor adjustments are selected during a specific postural task[1,2]
This technique measures the displacement of the center of pressure (CP), which is the spatial coordinate of the vertical ground reaction force
Because somatosensory perturbations during quiet stance increase body oscillation[8] and joint impairments lead to augmented values of CP displacement[9], it can be argued that lower limb morphology and joint alignment are linked to upright posture control, in the elderly, who show an age-related deterioration of the sensory and neuromuscular control mechanisms[10], as well as structural deformities related to the degeneration of joint cartilage
Summary
Posture control depends on the integration of sensory information from various senses so that appropriate motor adjustments are selected during a specific postural task[1,2]. The contribution of the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems in quiet standing is well described in the literature[3,4] and the objective method most often used to evaluate body stability is platform stabilometry, known as posturography[1,2] This technique measures the displacement of the center of pressure (CP), which is the spatial coordinate of the vertical ground reaction force. Because somatosensory perturbations during quiet stance increase body oscillation[8] and joint impairments lead to augmented values of CP displacement[9], it can be argued that lower limb morphology and joint alignment are linked to upright posture control, in the elderly, who show an age-related deterioration of the sensory and neuromuscular control mechanisms[10], as well as structural deformities related to the degeneration of joint cartilage
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