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KMID : 0357220090210030075
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Journal of Korean Society Physical Therapy
2009 Volume.21 No. 3 p.75 ~ p.80
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The Effect of Obstacle Height on Balance Control While Stepping Over an Obstacle From a Position of Quiet Stance in Older Adults
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Kim Hyeong-Dong
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Abstract
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an obstacle height on the balance control of older adults while stepping over an obstacle from a position of quiet stance.
Methods: Fifteen community-dwelling healthy older adults (mean age, yrs; age range, 67-82 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects performed gait initiation (GI) and they stepped over obstacles of two different heights (10 cm and 18 cm) at a self-paced speed from a position of quiet stance. Their performance was assessed by recording the changes in the displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions using a force platform.
Results: The M-L displacement of the COP significantly increased for an 18 cm obstacle height condition as compared to the GI and a 10 cm obstacle height condition (p<0.01). Furthermore, the M-L displacement of the COP for a 10 cm high obstacle was significantly greater for that for the GI (p<0.01). However, the mean of the A-P displacement of the COP was similar between the stepping conditions for the A-P displacement of the COP (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This study suggests that the M-L COP displacement could be a better parameter to identify the dynamic balance control in older adults when negotiating obstacles.
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KEYWORD
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Balance, Falls, Gait initiation, Obstacle crossing
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