Practice-related improvements in postural control during rapid arm movement in older adults: a preliminary study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postural control associated with self-paced movement is critical for balance in older adults. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a virtual reality-based program on the postural control associated with rapid arm movement in this population. METHODS: From an upright standing position, participants performed rapid arm-raising movements toward a target. Practice-related changes were assessed by pre- and posttest comparisons of hand kinematics and center of pressure displacement parameters measured in a training group (mean age 71.50 ± 2.67 years, n = 8) and a control group (mean age 72.87 ± 3.09 years, n = 8). Training group participants took part in six sessions (35-40 minutes per session, three sessions per week). During the two test sessions, arm raising was analyzed under two conditions of stimuli choice reaction time and simple reaction time. RESULTS: We observed improvements in the arm movement after training under both conditions of stimuli. The initial phase of the center of pressure displacement, especially the anticipatory postural adjustments, was improved in the choice reaction time condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our short training program resulted in motor optimization of the postural control associated with rapid arm movements, and this implies central changes in motor programming.