Article

The study examined the effect of aging adults (young: 18-26 years vs. old: 66-73
years) on the recovery of postural stability from taking a single volitional step
that varied in direction (forward, backward, sideways) onto force platforms. The
recovery of postural stability (as indexed by an exponential decay function) was
determined from the dynamic stability of the motions of the center of pressure
(COP), center of mass (COM) and virtual time to contact (VTC). The findings
showed that in all step directions the older adults required more time to
securely perform the step and were less stable after the second foot contact with
the surface of support. The decay rate of the recovery of the COP, COM and VTC
stable dynamics was reduced and the minimum of VTC lower in the old in contrast
to the young adults. The findings reveal that even in taking a single step with
preferred spatial-temporal dynamics older adults are slower and less stable in
recovery of stance through more closely challenging the limits of the postural
stability boundary and its associated potential of a fall.
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Langue : ANGLAIS