Sensitive Balance Parameters in Detecting Age-related Changes of Balance Control in Elderly

Objective: To determine stability parameters in clinical balance tests and posturography that can asses age-related changes in posture control sensitively Method: Thirty nine healthy elderly people over 60 years old and twentyyoung controls were recruited. Elderly people were subdivided into 3 groups by age (aged 60 similar to 69, 70 similar to 79, over 80). Subject were evaluated with clinical balance tests and posturophy.In posturography, center of pressure (COP) parameters were obtainted as total path distance,sway area, mean frequency of sway in comfortable standing. Visual feedback systems (VFS) was added to postography and then subjects were asked to move their COP into the target circle on monitor with active movement on force plate. In VFS, time to get in the circle, total path of deviation ,time in the circle were measured. Results: Time in the circle assessed by posturophy with VFS showed significant difference between age groups (p< 0.5). Significant correlations between time in the cirle and clinical balance tests were also found (p<0.001). Conclusion: A posturography with VFS was considered to have clin usefulness in sensitive evaluation of age related change of balcne control int healthy elderly people.