Physical and Sporting Activities Improve Vestibular Afferent Usage and Balance in Elderly Human Subjects

Abstract

Background: Ageing is associated with a reduction in balance, in particular through dysfunction of each level of postural control, which results in an increased risk of falling. Conversely, the practice of physical activities has been shown to modulate postural control in elderly people. Objective: This study examined the potential positive effects of two types of regular physical and sporting activities on vestibular information and their relation to posture. Methods: Gaze and postural stabilisation was evaluated by caloric and rotational vestibular tests on 18 healthy subjects over the age of 60 who regularly practised low-energy or bioenergetic physical activities and on 18 controls of a similar age who only walked on a regular basis. These subjects were also submitted to static and dynamic posturographic tests. Results: The control group displayed less balance control, with a lower vestibular sensitivity and a relatively high dependency on vision compared to the group practising low-energy physical activities, which had better postural control with good vestibular sensitivity and less dependency on vision. The postural control and vestibular sensitivity of subjects practising bioenergetic activities was average, and required higher visual afferent contribution. Conclusion: Low-energy exercises, already shown to have the most positive impact on balance control by relying more on proprioception, also appear to develop or maintain a high level of vestibular sensitivity allowing elderly people practising such exercises to reduce the weight of vision.

Handgrip and functional mobility in elderly with different levels of physical activity

“…Karlsson et al 22 indicate that both supervised unsupervised (home) exercises bring reduction in the number of falls, since they have more than two training components. The literature indicates that practicing physical or sports activities, them being oriented or not, brings benefits to the elderly population, for it decreases postural oscilations, improving balance and the proprioceptive responses [23][24][25] , predisposing them to a lower risk of falls, improved functionality and quality life 26 . Sherrington et al 27 described exercise recommendations to balance targeted exercises for the prevention of falls based on a meta-analysis.…”

Review of safety and mobility issues among older pedestrians

“…Efficient postural regulation requires integrating high quality sensory information coming from somatosensory, visual, and vestibular afferences (Gauchard et al, 2001). The age-related decline of proprioceptive and vestibular afferences appears to account for the impaired sense of balance and the increased risk of falling found in older pedestrians (see e.g., Gauchard et al, 2001;Patel et al, 2010). For example, older adults are hindered more than younger adults by vibrations of skeletal muscles or tendons (Patel et al, 2010) or by visual distortions while walking (Huitema et al, 2005).…”

Young adults’ leisure -time habits in the University of Alicante

“…It is also an undeniable fact that sport is preventive against diseases and what more; in case of certain lingering illness it minimizes the frequency of medical treatments (Gauchard, 2001;Jákó, 2003). Analyses have certified that regular training or work out have beneficial effect on blood pressure, diabetes, chronic back ache and on noisome habits.…”