Association between somatosensory, visual and vestibular contributions to postural control, reactive balance capacity and healthy ageing in older women

Abstract

Association between somatosensory, visual and vestibular contributions topostural control, reactive balance capacity and healthy ageing in older women. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9644/ Article LJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively. Alcock, L, O'Brien, TD and Vanicek, N (2018) Association between somatosensory, visual and vestibular contributions to postural control, reactive balance capacity and healthy ageing in older women. Health Care for Women International.There are no acknowledgements. There are no acknowledgements of financial support. There are no perceived conflicts of interest. Effect of healthy ageing on postural responses ABSTRACTWe investigated the biological systems involved in maintaining equilibrium during unstable and perturbed conditions in 39 healthy older women and estimated the annual difference in performance across the older age spectrum using regression. The largest annual difference in equilibrium occurred when the somatosensory system received inaccurate feedback and visual input was removed. With age, weight distribution became asymmetric at the onset of backwards perturbations, possibly in preparation for executing a stepping strategy. When one sensory system was challenged, postural responses were stable suggesting other systems compensated. When multiple sensory systems were challenged, significant differences in postural control emerged with age. Keywords NewcasEffect of healthy ageing on postural responses

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