Age-associated increase in postural variability relate to greater low-frequency center of pressure oscillations.
Stefan Delmas, Tatsunori Watanabe, Basma Yacoubi and 1 others
PMID 33524665WHAT IT FOUND
In older adults, greater postural variability during a forward lean task was strongly predicted by low-frequency center-of-pressure oscillations.
This suggests future rehab strategies could target these specific oscillations to improve balance and reduce fall risk.
Key findings
01Older adults exhibited significantly greater anterior-posterior center-of-pressure variability than young adults during a forward lean task.
02Low-frequency oscillations (0–0.5 Hz) in the anterior-posterior direction were the single significant predictor of anterior-posterior postural variability.
03Older adults showed greater power in low-frequency anterior-posterior center-of-pressure oscillations compared to young adults.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (14 participants total), limiting generalizability. The study was cross-sectional and observational; it did not test whether reducing low-frequency oscillations actually improves balance or reduces falls. The task was a controlled laboratory lean, which may not fully replicate the complexity of dynamic activities like walking. Gender distribution was uneven between groups, and the authors note it is unclear if gender differences contributed to the results.
Declared interests
The authors state no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that a specific therapy works. This study only shows a statistical association between low-frequency oscillations and variability in a small group. It does not prove that targeting these oscillations in treatment will improve balance or prevent falls.