Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men?
Stair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244990 |
| _version_ | 1818723319946412032 |
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| author | Zuzana Kováčiková Javad Sarvestan Erika Zemková |
| author_facet | Zuzana Kováčiková Javad Sarvestan Erika Zemková |
| author_sort | Zuzana Kováčiková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender and age-related differences in balance control during and after stair descent on a foam mat. Forty-seven older adults (70% women) and 38 young adults (58% women) performed a descent from one step onto a foam mat. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) centre of pressure velocity (CoP) and standard deviation of the CoP sway were investigated during stair descent and restabilization. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the main effects of age for the first 5 s of restabilization. Older women exhibited significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity in both directions compared to the younger individuals (CoP SDAP5, 55%; CoP SDML5, 30%; CoP VAP5, 106%; CoP VML5, 75%). Men achieved significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity only in the AP direction compared to their younger counterparts (CoP SDAP5, 50% and CoP VAP5, 79%). These findings suggest that with advancing age, men are at higher risk of forward falls, whereas women are at higher risk of forward and sideways falls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:08:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9756316ab27049188e3806e2a7a2bd4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:08:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-9756316ab27049188e3806e2a7a2bd4c2022-12-21T21:32:31ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01161e024499010.1371/journal.pone.0244990Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men?Zuzana KováčikováJavad SarvestanErika ZemkováStair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender and age-related differences in balance control during and after stair descent on a foam mat. Forty-seven older adults (70% women) and 38 young adults (58% women) performed a descent from one step onto a foam mat. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) centre of pressure velocity (CoP) and standard deviation of the CoP sway were investigated during stair descent and restabilization. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the main effects of age for the first 5 s of restabilization. Older women exhibited significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity in both directions compared to the younger individuals (CoP SDAP5, 55%; CoP SDML5, 30%; CoP VAP5, 106%; CoP VML5, 75%). Men achieved significantly higher values of CoP sway and velocity only in the AP direction compared to their younger counterparts (CoP SDAP5, 50% and CoP VAP5, 79%). These findings suggest that with advancing age, men are at higher risk of forward falls, whereas women are at higher risk of forward and sideways falls.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244990 |
| spellingShingle | Zuzana Kováčiková Javad Sarvestan Erika Zemková Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? PLoS ONE |
| title | Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? |
| title_full | Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? |
| title_fullStr | Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? |
| title_short | Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men? |
| title_sort | age related differences in stair descent balance control are women more prone to falls than men |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244990 |
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