The aim of the study was to compare static postural balance of healthy individuals of three age groups in different conditions of support and vision. Seventy one individuals, divided into 3 groups, were analyzed: young group (YG: 22.2 ± 2.1 years), middle aged group (MAG: 50.7 ± 5.7 years) and older individuals group (EG: 66.8 ± 5.4 years). Their balance was tested on a force platform, under 3 support and 3 visual conditions. Measures included: total (TD), anterior-posterior (APD) and mediolateral displacement (MLD) of the center of pressure (CoP). ANOVA revealed significant differences for interactions between group X support conditions and group X visual conditions for the 3 variables (p<0.01), with greater displacements for the MAG and EG groups during single-leg stance with partial and occluded vision (p<0.05). Static postural balance decreased over time in healthy individuals, and conditions of support and visual negatively affected balance with the increment of age.
Introdução: O estado de saúde e os fatores de risco subjacentes para prevenção e tratamento dos agravos em idosos são um tema de destaque na saúde pública. Objetivo: Comparar os efeitos do envelhecimento no equilíbrio funcional de sujeitos saudáveis em três faixas etárias. Métodos: Por meio do Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) e da Berg Balance Scale (BBS), foi analisado o equilíbrio funcional de 71 sujeitos, divididos em três grupos: jovens (GJ); meia idade (GMI) e idosos (GI). Foi realizada uma Anova one-way, seguida do post hoc de Tukey, considerando um α de 5%. Resultados: No TUGT houve diferença significativa entre GJ x GMI (P
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