Article

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether adding a pointing
task would influence functional reach test performance in younger and older
adults. DESIGN: While standing on a force plate, 20 older (73 +/- 8 yrs) and 20
younger (23 +/- 1 yrs) adults were randomly administered a modification of the
functional reach test and the functional point test. Functional pointing involved
reaching and pointing at the farthest possible target in a series of 1.27-cm
colored craft pom-poms attached at 2.54-cm intervals on a yardstick. RESULTS:
Both older adults (P = 0.001) and younger adults (P = 0.043) reached farther
using the functional point test. Older adults also increased their anterior
center of pressure displacement with this test (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The
addition of a pointing task can make the original clinical test more functional
and increase reaching distance in both older and younger adults. Further research
is needed to determine whether functional pointing challenges subjects' stability
limits more than the traditional test does and offers greater sensitivity in the
evaluation of functional balance and fall risk.

Langue : ANGLAIS