Motriz: Revista de Educacao Fisica (Mar 2014)

Static postural balance in healthy individuals: Comparisons between three age groups

  • Yanne Salviano Pereira,
  • Jéssica Mascena de Medeiros,
  • José Ângelo Barela,
  • Ana Maria Forti Barela,
  • César Ferreira Amorim,
  • Catarina de Oliveira Sousa,
  • Palloma Rodrigues de Andrade,
  • José Jamacy de Almeida Ferreira,
  • Heleodório Honorato dos Santos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-65742014000100013
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 85 – 91

Abstract

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The aim of the study was to compare static postural balance of healthy individuals of three age groups in different conditions of support and vision. Seventy one individuals, divided into 3 groups, were analyzed: young group (YG: 22.2 ± 2.1 years), middle aged group (MAG: 50.7 ± 5.7 years) and older individuals group (EG: 66.8 ± 5.4 years). Their balance was tested on a force platform, under 3 support and 3 visual conditions. Measures included: total (TD), anterior-posterior (APD) and mediolateral displacement (MLD) of the center of pressure (CoP). ANOVA revealed significant differences for interactions between group X support conditions and group X visual conditions for the 3 variables (p<0.01), with greater displacements for the MAG and EG groups during single-leg stance with partial and occluded vision (p<0.05). Static postural balance decreased over time in healthy individuals, and conditions of support and visual negatively affected balance with the increment of age.

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