Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of age on hip proprioception, and determine
whether age-related hip proprioception declines disrupt balance. DESIGN: Survey
of proprioception and balance differences between 3 age groups. SETTING:
University balance laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteer sample of independent
community-dwelling adults (N=102) without sensory or other neurologic impairments
in 3 age groups: younger (mean age, 24.6y; range, 19-37y), mid-aged (mean age,
53.3y; range, 40-64y), and older adults (mean age, 76.3y; range, 65-94y).
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hip joint position sense
(JPS) and kinesthesia were measured using a custom-built device. JPS error was
determined by the magnitude of matching errors during vision and no-vision
conditions. Kinesthesia was evaluated by the ability to detect passive limb
rotation without vision. Postural sway was assessed during static stance and
measured using root mean square of center of pressure (COP) displacement and
velocity of COP displacement. Clinical balance and fear of falling were assessed
with the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest) and
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, respectively. RESULTS: Both older
and mid-aged adults had significantly increased JPS error compared with younger
adults (P<.05). Kinesthesia accuracy was significantly decreased in older adults
compared with mid-aged and younger adults (P</=.01). Both measures of
proprioception error correlated with age (P</=.001). There were no relationships
between hip proprioception error and postural sway during static stance. However,
older adults with lower proprioceptive error had significantly higher
mini-BESTest scores of dynamic balance abilities (P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: These
results provide evidence of significant hip proprioception declines with age.
Although these declines are not related to increases in postural sway,
participants with hip proprioception declines demonstrated disrupted dynamic
balance, as indicated by decreased mini-BESTest scores.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS