Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Φυσιολογία της Γήρανσης και Γηριατρικά ΣύνδρομαLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Αναστάσιος Φιλίππου, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Δημήτριος Πατίκας, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Επιστήμης Φυσικής αγωγής και Αθλητισμού, ΑΠΘ
Ευθύμιος Αλέξανδρος Τσουκνίδας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Μηχανολόγων Μηχανικών ,Π.Δ.Μ
Original Title:
Στατική ισορροπία ηλικιωμένων ατόμων σε συνθήκες αυξανόμενης δυσκολίας
Translated title:
Static balance of elderly people in conditions of increasing difficulty
Summary:
Βalance ability is disrupted with advancing age, and this disturbance worsens as the
difficulty of the assessment task increases. The aim of this research wasto investigate
the effects of age on static balance in tests of increasing difficulty among elderly
individuals aged 65-85 years of both genders. Sixteen healthy elderly men participants
and 19 women participants took part inthe study. Static balance was assessed through
center of pressure displacement during tests of increasing difficulty (normal quiet
stance on stable and unstable surfaces: 60s with eyes open and closed, normal quiet
stance with backward counting: 60s, and one leg stance: 10s). The variables evaluated
ncluded mean and standard deviation of center of pressure displacement, mean and
standard deviation of velocity of center of pressure in the anteroposterior anddiolateral
axes. Additionally, maximum strength of ankle plantar and dorsal flexors was
assessed using an isometric dynamometer (OT Bioelettronica). The results of the
study showed that elderly individuals aged +75, regardless of gender, exhibited greater
velocity of center of pressure in the mediolateraldirection (p<0.05) as task difficulty
increased. In conditions of increased difficulty, normal quiet stance on unstable
surfaces with closed eyes, and dual task condition, oscillation was greater in both axes
in elderly individuals aged +75 (p<0.05). Furthermore, no correlation was found
between balance-related variables and either isometric strength of dorsal or plantar
flexion of the ankle. The execution of balance tests with increased difficulty appears
to be influenced by the combination of multiple factors, such as degenerative
processes of the neuromuscular system and sensory perception, occurringwith aging.
These findings might contribute to early detection of balance disorders and consequently reduce the risk of falls and improve the quality of life of the elderly, particularly of those over 75 years of age.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Postural oscillation, Aging, Maximum strength
