This research aimed to determine the characteristics employed during balance recovery arising from an unexpected disruption between elderly and young adults. Therefore, 20 university students (22 ± 2.6 anos; 62.3 ± 10.6 kg) and 20 elderly (70.3 ± 3.2 anos; 64.5 ± 9.3 kg) underwent a test disturbance of posture control on a force platform. The amplitude of the CP in the anteroposterior direction was 3.20 ± 0.67 cm for the young, which showed a smaller displacement than the elderly (4.55 ± 0.9 cm, p <0.05). It was found that the elderly had the largest and fastest displacements of center of pressure in the antero-posterior direction than young adults. This increased amplitude of oscillation for the elderly causes a slower response in the recovery of instability, thus increasing the probability of falling in this population.
Aging health; Stabilometry; Postural control
Thumbnail
