• Konspekt
• Patologie. Klinická medicína
• NLK Obory
• neurologie

Stair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender and age-related differences in balance control during and after stair descent on a foam mat. Forty-seven older adults (70% women) and 38 young adults (58% women) performed a descent from one step onto a foam mat. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) centre of pressure velocity (CoP) and standard deviation of the CoP sway were investigated during stair descent and restabilization. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the main effects of age for the first 5 s of restabilization. Older women exhibited significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity in both directions compared to the younger individuals (CoP SDAP5, 55%; CoP SDML5, 30%; CoP VAP5, 106%; CoP VML5, 75%). Men achieved significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity only in the AP direction compared to their younger counterparts (CoP SDAP5, 50% and CoP VAP5, 79%). These findings suggest that with advancing age, men are at higher risk of forward falls, whereas women are at higher risk of forward and sideways falls.

• MeSH
• chůze (způsob) fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lokomoce fyziologie   MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• posturální rovnováha fyziologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sexuální faktory MeSH
• úrazy pádem * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: To prevent the risk of stair descent falls and associated injuries in the older adults, it is important to understand the factors that affect this frequent locomotion of daily living. The fact that falls are in most cases the result of the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors is very often underestimated when designing test protocols. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed at evaluating balance control during and immediately after step down onto an unstable surface. METHODS: Physically active men and women aged 60-69 years (n = 28) and 70-79 years (n = 18) were asked to perform a step down onto a foam pad and stand still for 30 s (restabilization phase). Centre of pressure (CoP) velocity and standard deviation of CoP sway in anteroposterior and mediolateral direction were evaluated during the step down (CoP VAP, CoP VML, CoP SDAP, CoP SDML) and in the first 5 s of restabilization (CoP VAP5, CoP VML5, CoP SDAP5, CoP SDML5). In addition, time to complete step was investigated. RESULTS: Participants aged 70-79 years presented worse ML balance control after step down onto an unstable surface than their younger counterparts. This was represented by the significantly higher values of CoP SDML5 and CoP VML5 (p = 0.022 and p = 0.017). No other significant differences were detected. SIGNIFICANCE: Age is associated with a more significant ML center of pressure velocity and sway after step down onto a foam pad in physically active older adults. Exercises aimed at improving ML balance control in unstable conditions should be the subject of physical interventions even in older adults with overall good state of health and physical fitness.

• MeSH
• cvičení * MeSH
• fyzikální vyšetření MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lokomoce MeSH
• posturální rovnováha * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• terapie cvičením MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Balance and lower limb strength deficits are associated with a high incidence of falls in older adults. This study investigated the association between balance control during and after stair descent onto a compliant surface and lower limb strength. Thirty-five women and 14 men participated in this study. Stair descent time, mean center of pressure velocity in anteroposterior and mediolateral direction during stair descent (CoP VAP and CoP VML), and CoP velocity in the first 5 s of restabilization phase (CoP V5) were evaluated. Bilateral strength of the knee flexors and extensors, and ankle plantar and dorsal flexors was evaluated. Spearman correlation analysis with Bonferroni correction yielded a significant association between the strength of the knee flexors on the trailing limb and stair descent time in women (r = 0.502, p = 0.002, R2 = 0.246). The same analysis in men revealed a significant association between the strength of the knee flexors on the trailing limb and CoP VAP (r = -0.820, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.280) and CoP VML (r = -0.697, p = 0.006, R2 = 0.359). The strength of the ankle plantar flexors on the trailing limb was significantly associated with stair descent time (r = 0.684, p = 0.007, R2 = 0.429) and CoP VAP (r = -0.723, p = 0.003, R2 = 0.408) in men. Stair descent balance control is associated with knee flexion strength on trailing limb in women, and with ankle plantar flexion and knee flexion strength on the same limb in men.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• hlezenní kloub * MeSH
• kolenní kloub MeSH
• koleno MeSH
• kosterní svaly MeSH
• kotník * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• svalová síla MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH