The Mediating Role of Vision in the Relationship between Proprioception and Postural Control in Older Adults, as Compared to Teenagers and Younger and Middle-Aged Adults.

Ainhoa Nieto-Guisado,Adrià Marco-Ahulló,Monica Solana-Tramunt,Marta Sevilla-Sánchez,Josep Campos-Rius,Jose Morales,Cristina Cabrejas

doi:10.3390/healthcare10010103

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the mediating role of vision in the relationship between conscious lower limb proprioception (dominant knee) and bipedal postural control (with eyes open and closed) in older adults, as compared with teenagers, younger adults and middle-aged adults. Methods: The sample consisted of 119 healthy, physically active participants. Postural control was assessed using the bipedal Romberg test with participants’ eyes open and closed on a force platform. Proprioception was measured through the ability to reposition the knee at 45°, measured with the Goniometer Pro application’s goniometer. Results: The results showed an indirect relationship between proprioception and postural control with closed eyes in all age groups; however, vision did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions: Older adults outperformed only teenagers on the balance test. The group of older adults was the only one that did not display differences with regard to certain variables when the test was done with open or closed eyes. It seems that age does not influence performance on proprioception tests. These findings help us to optimize the design of training programs for older adults and suggest that physical exercise is a protective factor against age-related decline.

Highlights

Published: 5 January 2022Poor postural control is a common problem among older adults, and it is associated with mobility issues, limitations on everyday activities and the risk of falling [1]
The degree to which this skill reaches its highest potential depends on the integration of visual, vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile inputs, which play a role in regulating the tonicity and the perception of strength and pressure needed to keep the balance [6]
A significant indirect effect was found for the variables mean velocity in the anterior–posterior (MVAP) Romberg bipedal closed eyes (RCE) and MVML RCE, but not for total area. These results show a total mediation of MVAP RCE and MVML RCE in the relationship between proprioception and postural control, but no mediating effect when it comes to the variable of total area

Summary

Introduction

Published: 5 January 2022Poor postural control is a common problem among older adults, and it is associated with mobility issues, limitations on everyday activities and the risk of falling [1]. Postural control is defined as the ability to maintain the body’s center of gravity within the base of support [2] This motor skill is closely connected to the central nervous system, and it evolves with age [3], reaching complete maturity in adulthood (>18 years of age). This maturity is followed by a decline, when people gradually lose synapses and their nonfunctional neural connections disappear, causing a deterioration of motor skills among older adults [4]. The degree to which this skill reaches its highest potential depends on the integration of visual, vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile inputs, which play a role in regulating the tonicity and the perception of strength and pressure needed to keep the balance [6]

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