Open AccessBody stability of the elderly in the aspect of their daily physical activity
Author(s) -
Anna Famuła,
Janusz Nowotny,
Olga Nowotny-Czupryna,
Joanna Szymańska,
Beata Kita
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
postępy rehabilitacji/advances in rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.14
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 1734-4948
pISSN - 0860-6161
DOI - 10.2478/rehab-2013-0032
Subject(s) - balance (ability) , physical activity , physical medicine and rehabilitation , promotion (chess) , medicine , control (management) , stability (learning theory) , physical therapy , gerontology , computer science , artificial intelligence , machine learning , politics , political science , law
One of the problems of the elderly is to reduce the efficiency of regulation of the balance of the body, often resulting in deterioration of their stability and falls. Whole physical activity is one of the elements which in a measurable way are affecting the ability to function independently in society. Efforts are, therefore, studies aimed at understanding the impact of physical activity on the level of balance control in the elderly and attempts to develop the best strategy for prevention and promotion physical activity The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of the regulation of body balance and stability in the elderly in terms of their daily physical activity Material and methods: The study included 66 people aged over 65 years of age. Based on questionnaire it was identified the level of health and current level of physical activity. Basic stabilometric parameters were evaluated using AccuGait platform while maintaining a standing upright posture with and without visual control and while the platform was set horizontally and tiltable in four basic directions. Also performed attempts to tilt the body to the limit of stability in four basic directions. The results: Based on analysis of the path length, speed and size swingings fields, it was found that in people who are less active physically disabling visual control did not start a sufficient mechanisms of the body balance control, especially when the base of support is not positioned horizontally. These patients also showed a significant the lack of skills of narrowing the margin of safety when the body was leaned to the back Conclusions: Seniors with lower levels of physical activity are generally characterized by lower sensitivity of proprioception. Older people who are less physically active showed deterioration of stability of the body especially in the direction to the back. Physical activity associated only with functioning independently in the home environment may not be a sufficient stimulus of maintenance the efficiency of elderly.