Postural balance disorders in sarcopenia based on surface electromyography

Abstract

BackgroundSarcopenia is an intrinsic factor that leads to balance disorders and falls in older adults. However, the characterization of sarcopenia-related postural balance deficits remains unclear. AimsThis study aimed to explore the balance performance and postural control strategy in older adults with sarcopenia during static stance tasks using force platforms and surface electromyography. MethodsOlder adults with right-sided dominance were recruited, including 27 adults with sarcopenia and 27 healthy counterparts. Postural sway was measured with eyes open/closed on rigid/compliant surfaces. The time- and frequency-domain indexes of bilateral lower extremity muscle activity were simultaneously recorded. ResultsThe postural sway and activity of multiple lower extremity muscles in the sarcopenia group were increased (P < 0.05). The amplitude contribution ratio of the right tibialis anterior muscle (larger in sarcopenia), co-contraction ratio of right ankle dorsiflexion (smaller in sarcopenia), and mean power frequency and median frequency of the left gluteus maximus muscle (smaller in sarcopenia) had main effects of grouping (P < 0.001, η2p = 0.06–0.10). All of them had discrimination for sarcopenia (area under the curve = 0.639–0.657, P < 0.001) and were correlated with balance function measurement in sarcopenia (|rs| = 0.22–0.44, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that older adults with sarcopenia have decreased balance function and increased cost of electrophysiology. They were found to prefer the postural strategy of dominant ankle dorsiflexion and demonstrated overactivity of the dominant tibialis anterior muscles and fatigue vulnerability of the nondominant gluteus maximus. Improvements in these postural features may have balance benefits.