Exploring the Effect of Prolonged Ankle Plantar-Flexed Standing on Postural Control, Balance Confidence, Falls Efficacy, and Perceived Balance in Older Adults
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Postural control describes our ability to maintain an upright position. This study explored the impact of prolonged ankle plantar-flexed standing on postural control variability and strategy in an older adult population. The ability to perceive balance chang...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Biomechanics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/5/2/19 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Postural control describes our ability to maintain an upright position. This study explored the impact of prolonged ankle plantar-flexed standing on postural control variability and strategy in an older adult population. The ability to perceive balance change was also assessed via subjective balance-related variables. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-four community-dwelling older adults were recruited via convenience sampling. Each participant completed a balance confidence and falls efficacy questionnaire at baseline. Five barefoot quiet standing trials on a force plate then followed (Timepoint 1). After this, the participants stood with their ankles in a plantar-flexed position for up to 7.5 min before completing another quiet standing trial on the force plate. Four further ankle plantar-flexed standing trials of 2 min were then completed, interspersed with quiet standing trials on a force plate (Timepoint 2). The balance confidence and falls efficacy questionnaires were then completed again. For measures of postural control variability (sway path length, root mean square [RMS], sway area) and strategy (fractal dimension), mean values for the five trials were calculated for Timepoints 1 and 2 separately. <b>Results:</b> The sway path length and RMS measures were significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) at Timepoint 2. However, the fractal dimension did not change. There was also no change in balance confidence or falls efficacy. <b>Conclusions:</b> The findings suggest that prolonged standing can impact measures of postural variability without a change in postural control strategy. Postural control change also occurred without a change in subjective balance measures, suggesting that the altered balance may not be practically significant or perceptible to the individual. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2673-7078 |