Balance in elderly

This study was carried on thirty normal elderly (above the age of 60 years) individuals, and forty normal young adults (20-40 years). All individuals were subjected to: thorough history taking, neurological examination and full routine laboratory studies, functional tests for postural stability and balance (Standing Balance Scale, Berg Balance Scale, Rivermead Mobility Index). Laboratory evaluation of postural stability and gait using computerized dynamic posturography device was also done. The results showed that there was significant decrease in scores of different balance scales in elderly persons compared to young adults. Moreover, there was significant decrease in percent of maximum stability in conditions 5 and 6 (eyes closedswayed surface, swayed vision-swayed surface respectively) of the SOT being lesser in elderly subjects compared to young adults, imposing the effect of changes of the vestibular system with aging on balance and stability. Concerning stability during quiet standing, in stance test, there was an increase in the COG sway velocity of elderly individuals compared to young which reached a significant value on standing on foam surface, and in unilateral stance on firm surface but not for the bilateral stance on firm surface. However, regarding measures of postural stability presented by limits of stability test (LOS) and rhythmic weight shift test, there was significant prolongation of reaction time, impaired directional control, and decreased movement velocity in all directions of elderly subjects compared to young adults. Regarding gait characteristics of elderly subjects, there was significant increase in step width, walk end sway, turn sway, and decrease in step length and speed of walk when compared to young adults. Moreover, there was significant prolongation in latencies of all responses elicited by both the gastrocnemius muscle (SLR, MLR) and tibialis anterior muscle (LLR) in the posture evoked response of elderly individuals. . (Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2004, 41(1): 95-114).