Changes in postural balance associated with a woman's aging process

This was a cross-sectional study, with 400 irregularly active women were evaluated and grouped by age: Group 6^thdecade (age 50 to 59) ‒ 58 participants; Group 7^thdecade (age 60 to 69) ‒ 214 participants; Group 8^thdecade (age 70 to 79) ‒ 92 participants; Group 9^thdecade (age 80 to 89) ‒ 36 participants. Postural balance was evaluated using a portable force platform in a standard standing position, with Eyes Open (EO) and Eyes Closed (EC).

Results

In the two measurement conditions, the elderly women in Group 9^thdecade presented mediolateral displacement and range, and mean velocity greater than the women's values in Groups 6^thand 7^thdecade. In the EO e EC situation, the displacement was higher in the elderly Group 9^thdecade compared to younger groups. Group 8^thhas a mean velocity greater than Group 6^thdecade in the EO situation.

Conclusions

Posturography showed a decline in postural balance with advancing age, suggesting that the 9^thdecade of life is a borderline age to this detriment due to an increase in postural instability.

Keyword
Accidental falls; Aging; Postural balance; Stabilometric parameters

	Group 6^th	Group 7^th	Group 8^th	Group 9^th
	50‒59 years	60‒69 years	70‒79 years	80‒89 years
	(n = 58)	(n = 214)	(n = 92)	(n = 36)
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Age (years)	56.8 (±2.3)	63.8 (±2.7)	73.9 (±2.5)	82.6 (±2.2)
Body weight (kg)	64.2 (±10.3)	69.1 (±14.0)	69.1 (±13.0)	65.4 (±16.0)
Height (m)	154 (±0.0)	155 (±0.0)	155 (±0.0)	154 (±0.0)
BMI (kg/m²)	27.0 (±4.2)	28.3 (±4.9)	28.5 (±4.5)	27.0 (±5.4)

	Group 6^th	Group 7^th	Group 8^th	Group 9^th
	50‒59 years	60‒69 years	70‒79 years	80‒89 years
	(n = 58)	(n = 214)	(n = 92)	(n = 36)
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Eyes open
Medio-lateral displacement (cm)	0.24 (±0.10)	0.26 (±0.12)	0.29 (±0.15)	0.33 (±0.11)
Anteroposterior displacement (cm)	0.41 (±0.12)	0.43 (±0.18)	0.44 (±0.18)	0.46 (±0.15)
Range medio-lateral (cm)	1.24 (±0.37)	1.39 (±0.71)	1.55 (±0.81)	1.83 (±0.69)
Antero-posterior range (cm)	2.09 (±0.51)	2.29 (±0.94)	2.40 (±1.03)	2.61 (±0.80)
Mean velocity (cm/s)	0.87 (±0.28)	0.94 (±0.30)	1.06 (±0.61)	1.22 (±0.55)
Area 95% (cm²)	1.89 (±1.11)	2.06 (±1.47)	2.41 (±1.77)	2.90 (±2.00)
Eyes closed
Medio-lateral displacement (cm)	0.25 (±0.99)	0.26 (±0.12)	0.28 (±0.15)	0.35 (±0.14)
Anteroposterior displacement (cm)	0.44 (±0.14)	0.48 (±0.26)	0.46 (±0.18)	0.49 (±0.18)
Medio-lateral range (cm)	1.39 (±0.64)	1.53 (±0.82)	1.66 (±1.10)	1.86 (±0.81)
Range anteroposterior (cm)	2.48 (±0.77)	2.85 (±1.03)	2.82 (±1.10)	2.80 (±1.10)
Mean velocity (cm/s)	1.04 (±0.34)	1.19 (±0.43)	1.27 (±0.59)	1.44 (±0.62)
Area 95% (cm²)	2.16 (±1.62)	2.42 (±1.69)	2.37 (±1.76)	3.10 (±2.17)

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[1] ⁎Corresponding author. E-mail address:guibrech@gmail.com (G.C. Brech).