Chronic physical activity preserves efficiency of proprioception in postural control in older women

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Chronic physical activity preserves efficiency of
proprioception inpostural control in older women

• Julien Maitre, PhD Jean-Louis Jully, MD
  Yannick Gasnier, MD Thierry Paillard, PhD

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• Aim
• Compare effects of proprioceptive disruption on
  postural control for participants of different
  ages, according to their physical and/or sport
  activity levels.
• Relevance
• Proprioceptive impairment is associated with
  decreased functional ability and increased fall
  risk in older individuals.
• Hence, optimization or preservation of
  proprioception is crucial in rehabilitation.

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Method

• Participants
• 68 women grouped by age and physical and/or sport
  activity level
• Young active.
• Old active.
• Young sedentary.
• Old sedentary.
• Conditions
• Bipedal quiet stance (reference).
• Bilateral Achilles tendon vibration.
• Measures
• Center of foot pressure displacements.
• Frequency analysis.

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Results

• When proprioceptive information was disrupted,
  postural control disturbance was more important
  for old sedentary group than for other groups.
• No differences between old active group and young
  sedentary group.
• Postural control was less altered for young
  active group than for other groups.

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Conclusion

• Aging decreases efficiency of postural control,
  regardless of assessment conditions.
• Physical and sport activities may compensate for
  disturbing effects of proprioceptive perturbation
  through better use of sensory information,
  whatever the participants age.