Article

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of proprioceptive disruption
on postural control for participants of different ages according to their
physical and/or sport activity levels. Two groups of young and old participants
who practiced chronic physical and/or sport activities (young active [n = 17;
average age 20.5 +/- 1.1 yr]
and old active [n = 17; average age 74.0 +/- 3.8
yr]) and two groups of young and old participants who did not practice physical
and/or sport activities (young sedentary [n = 17; average age 20.0 +/- 1.3 yr]
and old sedentary [n = 17; average age 74.7 +/- 6.3 yr]) participated in the
study. They were compared in a bipedal quiet stance reference condition and a
bilateral Achilles tendon vibration condition. Center of foot pressure
displacements and frequency analysis were compared between the groups. The
results indicated that when proprioceptive information was disrupted, the
postural control disturbance was more important for the old sedentary group than
for the other groups. There were no differences between the old active group and
the young sedentary group. Postural control was less altered for the young active
group than for the other groups. Aging decreases the efficiency of postural
control regardless of the assessment conditions.
Physical and sport activities
may compensate for the disturbing effects of proprioceptive perturbation through a better use of sensory information whatever the age of the participants.

Langue : ANGLAIS