Balance Performance Across the Lifespan Assessed by the Leonardo Mechanograph: A Cross-Sectional Study

Overview

Journal J Funct Morphol Kinesiol

Date 2021 Jan 20

PMID 33467217

Citations 5

Authors

Sabine Wiegmann

Dieter Felsenberg

Ulf Gast

Hendrikje Borst

Gabriele Armbrecht

Roswitha Dietzel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Reference values of sway parameters have not been published for the Leonardo mechanograph so far. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine normative values on postural control measured by the force plate Leonardo Mechanograph and to analyze the influence of age and sex on balance performance. A set of standardized standing positions with eyes opened (Romberg, semi-tandem, tandem, unipedal standing) was carried out. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to detect age-and sex-related differences in center of pressure (COP) parameters (path length, velocity, elliptical area, anterior-posterior, and medio-lateral directions). Measurements were available for 570 subjects aged 20-86 years. Statistical analysis showed a high effect of age group on postural control (partial n² between 0.1 and 0.4) with a U-shaped dependency between postural control and age for all area- and path-related COP parameters, with the largest sway in the youngest (aged 20-40) and the oldest age group (aged 60-86). For velocity of COP, a linear deterioration with increasing age was found. Medio-lateral components of COP are likely to indicate the extent of postural control. Significant sex differences were not clearly supported by current findings. Age- and sex-related normative values are a useful resource for diagnostic, research, and training.

Citing Articles

Effect of a Rehabilitation Program Including Home-Based Vibration-Assisted Therapy on Gait Parameters in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Steven S, Spiess K, Lentzen B, Reinhart N, Schoenau E, Duran I J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2024; 24(3):259-266.

PMID: 39219323 PMC: 11367170.

Balance and prospective falls in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Wiegmann S, Armbrecht G, Borucki D, Buehring B, Buttgereit F, Detzer C BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022; 23(1):549.

PMID: 35672724 PMC: 9175329. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05489-1.

The Relationship between Cognitive Dysfunction and Postural Stability in Multiple Sclerosis.

Redlicka J, Zielinska-Nowak E, Lipert A, Miller E Medicina (Kaunas). 2022; 58(1).

PMID: 35056313 PMC: 8778709. DOI: 10.3390/medicina58010006.

Differences in the Effect of Sleep Deprivation on the Postural Stability among Men and Women.

Olpinska-Lischka M, Kujawa K, Maciaszek J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(7).

PMID: 33916500 PMC: 8038654. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073796.

Longitudinal changes in muscle power compared to muscle strength and mass.

Wiegmann S, Felsenberg D, Armbrecht G, Dietzel R J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2021; 21(1):13-25.

PMID: 33657752 PMC: 8020018.

References

Liaw M, Chen C, Pei Y, Leong C, Lau Y . Comparison of the static and dynamic balance performance in young, middle-aged, and elderly healthy people. Chang Gung Med J. 2009; 32(3):297-304. View

Kapteyn T, Bles W, Njiokiktjien C, Kodde L, Massen C, Mol J . Standardization in platform stabilometry being a part of posturography. Agressologie. 1983; 24(7):321-6. View

Era P, Schroll M, Ytting H, Gause-Nilsson I, Heikkinen E, Steen B . Postural balance and its sensory-motor correlates in 75-year-old men and women: a cross-national comparative study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1996; 51(2):M53-63. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/51a.2.m53. View

Bryant E, Trew M, Bruce A, Kuisma R, Smith A . Gender differences in balance performance at the time of retirement. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2005; 20(3):330-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2004.11.006. View

Mcilroy W, Maki B . Preferred placement of the feet during quiet stance: development of a standardized foot placement for balance testing. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 1997; 12(1):66-70. DOI: 10.1016/s0268-0033(96)00040-x. View

Pajala S, Era P, Koskenvuo M, Kaprio J, Tormakangas T, Rantanen T . Force platform balance measures as predictors of indoor and outdoor falls in community-dwelling women aged 63-76 years. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008; 63(2):171-8. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/63.2.171. View

Taani M, Kovach C, Buehring B . Muscle Mechanography: A Novel Method to Measure Muscle Function in Older Adults. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(1):17-24. DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20161209-03. View

Blaszczyk J, Prince F, Raiche M, Hebert R . Effect of ageing and vision on limb load asymmetry during quiet stance. J Biomech. 2000; 33(10):1243-8. DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(00)00097-x. View

Pollock A, Durward B, Rowe P, Paul J . What is balance?. Clin Rehabil. 2000; 14(4):402-6. DOI: 10.1191/0269215500cr342oa. View

10.

Hytonen M, Pyykko I, Aalto H, Starck J . Postural control and age. Acta Otolaryngol. 1993; 113(2):119-22. DOI: 10.3109/00016489309135778. View

11.

Speers , Schultz , Alexander . Age differences in abilities to perform tandem stand and walk tasks of graded difficulty. Gait Posture. 1999; 7(3):207-213. DOI: 10.1016/s0966-6362(98)00006-x. View

12.

Goble D, Baweja H . Postural sway normative data across the adult lifespan: Results from 6280 individuals on the Balance Tracking System balance test. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2018; 18(8):1225-1229. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13452. View

13.

Maki B, Holliday P, Fernie G . Aging and postural control. A comparison of spontaneous- and induced-sway balance tests. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990; 38(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb01588.x. View

14.

PRIETO T, Myklebust J, Hoffmann R, Lovett E, Myklebust B . Measures of postural steadiness: differences between healthy young and elderly adults. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1996; 43(9):956-66. DOI: 10.1109/10.532130. View

15.

Ekdahl C, Jarnlo G, Andersson S . Standing balance in healthy subjects. Evaluation of a quantitative test battery on a force platform. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1989; 21(4):187-95. View

16.

Medell J, Alexander N . A clinical measure of maximal and rapid stepping in older women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000; 55(8):M429-33. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/55.8.m429. View

17.

Pasma J, Bijlsma A, van der Bij M, Arendzen J, Meskers C, Maier A . Age-related differences in quality of standing balance using a composite score. Gerontology. 2014; 60(4):306-14. DOI: 10.1159/000357406. View

18.

Isles R, Low Choy N, Steer M, Nitz J . Normal values of balance tests in women aged 20-80. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004; 52(8):1367-72. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52370.x. View

19.

Overstall P, Exton-Smith A, Imms F, Johnson A . Falls in the elderly related to postural imbalance. Br Med J. 1977; 1(6056):261-4. PMC: 1604147. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6056.261. View

20.

Henry S, Fung J, Horak F . Effect of stance width on multidirectional postural responses. J Neurophysiol. 2001; 85(2):559-70. DOI: 10.1152/jn.2001.85.2.559. View