The relationships of postural stability with muscle strength and proprioception are different among older adults over and under 75 years of age

Qi Wang; Li Li; Min Mao; Wei Sun; Cui Zhang; Dewei Mao; Qipeng Song

doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2022.07.004

The relationships of postural stability with muscle strength and proprioception are different among older adults over and under 75 years of age

J Exerc Sci Fit. 2022 Oct;20(4):328-334. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.07.004. Epub 2022 Aug 7.

Authors

Qi Wang¹, Li Li², Min Mao³, Wei Sun¹, Cui Zhang⁴, Dewei Mao¹, Qipeng Song¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Sports and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, 250102, China.
² Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, 30460, USA.
³ School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
⁴ Laboratory of Biomechanics, Shandong Institute of Sport Science, Jinan, 250102, China.

Abstract

Purpose: The relationships of postural stability with its three potential contributing factors, namely, muscle strength, tactile sensation, and proprioception, have not been clarified at different ages among older adults. Differences in the relationships may explain the increased incidence of falls among older adults 75 and older. This study compared the postural stability and its three factors between the older adults younger or older than 75 and investigated their age-specific relationships.

Methods: A total of 152 participants were recruited and divided into younger-old (65-74 years, n = 83) or older-old adults (≥75 years, n = 69) groups. Their Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) performance, muscle strength, tactile sensation, and proprioception were tested. The group differences and age-specific relationships of the performance with the three factors were examined.

Results: Compared to the younger-older adults, the older-old adults had lower BBS and higher TUG scores, weaker muscle strength, and worse proprioception. Muscle strength and proprioception were correlated with BBS and TUG among the younger-older adults. Only muscle strength but not proprioception among the older-old adults was correlated with BBS and TUG.

Conclusion: The older-old adults over 75 years have poorer postural stability, muscle strength, and proprioception compared to the younger-old adults aged 65-74 years. Proprioception provides information on postural stability among younger-old adults but not among older-old adults. Keeping proprioception from deteriorating with age could be a key to reducing falls in older-old adults.

Keywords: Falls; Muscle strength; Older adults; Postural stability; Proprioception; Tactile sensation.