AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCE IN DYNAMIC POSTURAL BALANCE AGAINST TILTING PERTURBATION IN MEN AND WOMEN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how age and gender affect the dynamic postural balance during tilting perturbation. Fifty healthy subjects (15 young men, 13 young women, 11 elderly men and 11 elderly women) performed balance test on a movable force plate that tilted toe-up and toe-down. As outcome measures, maximum excursion and fluctuation were calculated from center of pressure (COP) data in the sagittal plane (anteroposterior). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc comparisons were performed for the outcome measures with the independent factors of age and gender. The elderly had a greater COP maximum excursion as compared to the young during both perturbations ([Formula: see text]). COP fluctuation showed significant interaction of age and gender only in toe-up perturbation ([Formula: see text]). Especially, age-related difference existed only in women ([Formula: see text]). These results suggest that elderly women have dynamic balance strategy with great and fluctuated sway in response to toe-up perturbation. The age-related changes in dynamic balance among women may be related to the greater fall rate of elderly women.