Discrepancy in the involution of the different neural loops with age.

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of sensory manipulations on postural control for subjects of different ages. A young group of subjects (n = 17; 20.0 ± 1.3 years) and an old group of subjects (n = 17; 74.7 ± 6.3 years) were compared in 14 postural conditions [2 reference conditions and 12 sensory manipulation conditions: eyes closed, cervical collar, tendon vibration, electromyostimulation, galvanic vestibular stimulation (2 designs), foam surface] on a force platform. Spatio-temporal parameters of the center of foot pressure displacement were analyzed. When vestibular or proprioceptive afferences were manipulated, the old group was more disturbed than the young group. In addition, when myo-articular proprioceptive afferences were the only non-manipulated information source, the old group was also more disturbed than the young group. Hence, the inability to correctly interpret proprioceptive information and/or the impairment of myo-articular information would appear to be the major factor causing postural control deterioration. Moreover, concerning the vestibular system, it may be that aging alters the central integration of vestibular afferences. These results suggest that aging differently affects the functional ability of the different neural loops in postural control.

Effects of knee and ankle muscle fatigue on postural control in the unipedal stance.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acute muscle fatigue of the ankle and knee musculature on postural control by immediate measures after performing fatiguing tasks (POST condition). One group of subjects (n = 8) performed a fatiguing task by voluntary contractions of the triceps surae (group TRI) and the other (n = 9) performed a fatiguing task by voluntary contractions of the quadriceps femoris (group QUA). Each muscle group was exercised until the loss of maximal voluntary contraction torque reached 50% (isokinetic dynamometer). Posture was assessed by measuring the centre of foot pressure (COP) with a force platform during a test of unipedal quiet standing posture with eyes closed. Initially (in PRE condition), the mean COP velocity was not significantly different between group TRI and group QUA. In POST condition, the mean COP velocity increased more in group QUA than in group TRI. The postural control was more impaired by knee muscle fatigue than by ankle muscle fatigue.

Effects of fatigue induced by neuromuscular electrical stimulation on postural control.

The aim was to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary muscular contractions on postural abilities and strategy (n=8). Two groups of subjects performed a fatiguing of the triceps surae, the first by voluntary muscular contractions (group VOL) and the second (n=8) by electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary muscle contractions (group VOL+ES). Balance was measured before and after the completion of both fatiguing tasks, by using a force platform which recorded centre of foot pressure (COP). Spatio-temporal COP parameters were used to evaluate the postural abilities, and a frequency analysis of the COP excursions (Fast Fourier Transform) was performed to estimate the postural strategy (low frequencies mostly account for visuo-vestibular regulation and high frequencies for proprioceptive regulation). In the post-fatigue condition, spatio-temporal COP parameters were not modified in either group. However, the frequency analysis showed that the high frequency band increased more in group VOL than in group VOL+ES. Calf-muscles fatigue did not impair postural control but it generated a change of the contribution of the proprioceptive information (myotatic loops) greater in group VOL than in group VOL+ES. Calf-muscles fatigue induced a modification of the postural strategy that may be exerted more strongly after voluntary muscular contractions than after electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary muscular contractions.

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

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of proprioceptive disruption on postural control for participants of different ages according to their physical and/or sport activity levels. Two groups of young and old participants who practiced chronic physical and/or sport activities (young active [n = 17; average age 20.5 +/- 1.1 yr] and old active [n = 17; average age 74.0 +/- 3.8 yr]) and two groups of young and old participants who did not practice physical and/or sport activities (young sedentary [n = 17; average age 20.0 +/- 1.3 yr] and old sedentary [n = 17; average age 74.7 +/- 6.3 yr]) participated in the study. They were compared in a bipedal quiet stance reference condition and a bilateral Achilles tendon vibration condition. Center of foot pressure displacements and frequency analysis were compared between the groups. The results indicated that when proprioceptive information was disrupted, the postural control disturbance was more important for the old sedentary group than for the other groups. There were no differences between the old active group and the young sedentary group. Postural control was less altered for the young active group than for the other groups. Aging decreases the efficiency of postural control regardless of the assessment conditions. Physical and sport activities may compensate for the disturbing effects of proprioceptive perturbation through a better use of sensory information whatever the age of the participants.