Previous Physical Activity and Body Balance in Elderly People

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of body balance regulation in the elderly and verify whether physical activity in adolescence could influence later physical efficiency. Research was carried out on 62 persons aged between 65 and 96 years of age. Fifty people declared that they undertook physical activity in adolescence, while 12 reported no activity. Stabilographic examinations were performed during trials with open and closed eyes on a horizontally situated platform tilted forward and backward. The centre-of-pressure (COP) path length, sway range area and centre-of-pressure velocity (COP velocity) were assessed. The safety margin when a person leans forward and backward was evaluated as well. On a horizontally situated platform, exclusion of visual control in most of the examined participants resulted in a significant increase in values of examined parameters. Tilting the platform caused in both groups an increase in values of all the parameters. These changes were more visible when a trial with eyes closed was performed and the group of active people obtained better results. These people were also able to use the support area more effectively when changing the position of the body. It was found that body balance disorder affects more often elderly people who were less active in adolescence and that with age visual balance control dominates the proprioceptive one. This means that physical activity directed towards, among other things, forming and improving the body balance regulation system is needed at an early age.

The Static Standing Postural Stability Measured by Average Entropy

“…Maintaining postural stability involves a complex sensorimotor control system in the human body [ 2 ]. Any disturbance from the surroundings or subjects’ breathing could cause an increase in static standing postural instability [ 3 ], and such a loss of static standing postural stability can be shown in the center of pressure (COP) or the center of foot pressure (CFP) trajectory [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Force platforms are simple devices that can be used to record subjects’ COP trajectory over time in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions [ 7 ].…”

Influência Do Nível De Atividade Física Na Capacidade Funcional De Mulheres Idosas

“…No estudo conduzido por Famula et al (2013), os autores não encontraram diferença significativa entre idosas ativas e sedentárias no teste CAD, e hipotetizaram que o fato de ser ativo em outras idades que antecederam o envelhecimento, pode ter alguma influência na força, capacidade funcional e equilíbrio de idosos. Além deste aspecto que poderia explicar o presente resultado, poderia-se especular que outro fator que pode ter influenciado no resultado seria o fato de todas as idosas serem aparentemente saudáveis, garantido boa execução do teste de ambos os grupos.…”

Measuring gait pattern in elderly individuals by using a plantar pressure measurement device

“…The suppression of physical deterioration has been shown to be effective for fall prevention in the elderly [11]. Some studies have used specialized equipment to evaluate the physical functions of elderly people with regard to gait mechanisms [12,13,16]. Basic verification of ankle joint moments in the elderly, measured using force plates and three-dimensional motion analysis systems, have been carried out to assess kinematics [12], and stabilographs have been used to determine the center of pressure [16].…”

“…Studies on the physical functions of elderly people [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] have included subjective evaluations based on questionnaires and quantitative methods involving equipment such as force plates, stabilographs, and three-dimensional motion systems [12][13][14][15][16]. However, these methods are not practical for assessing the majority of community-dwelling elderly people and therefore cannot be used to determine the risks of fall with the aim of developing fall prevention measures.…”