Standing balance responses in two populations of elderly women: a pilot study.

A pilot study was conducted into the forces imposed on an instrumented, hand-held frame by two groups of elderly females. One group had been identified as having idiopathic gait disorders, and each subject had a history of falling for no apparent clinical reason. Tests were carried out to compare the responses of the two groups to single-leg-stance balance maneuvers. Results suggested that the "fallers" required greater support during single-leg stance. It was inferred that the fallers displaced their body mass more laterally during this procedure than was the case with the control group. Fallers applied greater forces to the frame with their eyes closed than with their eyes open; the control group did not show significant differences in this respect. These findings may help to define some of the biomechanical problems associated with idiopathic gait disorders.