Background: Changes in the proprioceptive system are associated with aging. Proprioception is
important to maintaining and/or recovering balance and to reducing the risk of
falls. Objective: To compare the performance of young and active elderly adults in three
proprioceptive tests. Method: Twenty-one active elderly participants (66.9±5.5 years) and 21 healthy young
participants (24.6±3.9 years) were evaluated in the following tests: perception of
position of the ankle and hip joints, perceived force level of the ankle joint,
and two-point discrimination of the sole of the foot. Results: No differences (p>0.05) were found between groups for the joint position and
perceived force level. On the other hand, the elderly participants showed lower
sensitivity in the two-point discrimination (higher threshold) when compared to
the young participants (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Except for the cutaneous plantar sensitivity, the active elderly participants had
maintained proprioception. Their physical activity status may explain similarities
between groups for the joint position sense and perceived force level, however it
may not be sufficient to prevent sensory degeneration with aging.
RESUMOO envelhecimento causa degeneração em sistemas orgânicos e pode comprometer a função proprioceptiva, que parece influenciar o equilíbrio e o controle postural. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar diferenças na propriocepção entre idosos e jovens. Quatorze idosos (idade = 66,3 ± 7,2 anos) e 15 jovens (idade = 23,9 ± 2,4 anos) foram submetidos a um teste de percepção de posicionamento segmentar (PPS) e a um teste de percepção do nível de força (PNF) exercida. Idosos apresentaram maior déficit proprioceptivo em reposicionamentos de membros superiores e inferiores a amplitudes maiores que 90° e em reproduções de baixa intensidade de força (20% e 30% 1RM) de músculos extensores do quadril e flexores do ombro. Os resultados indicam menor capacidade proprioceptiva em idosos na realização de movimentos de grande amplitude para membros superiores e de baixa amplitude para membros inferiores. Déficits na percepção e controle da força, embora em baixos níveis da contração isométrica máxima, foram encontrados em idosos.
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