Age-dependent changes in dynamic standing-balance ability evaluated quantitatively using a stabilometer.
Yasuhiro Suzuki, Shigeru Yatoh, Hiroaki Suzuki and 4 others
PMID 29410573WHAT IT FOUND
Dynamic standing balance declines with age, dropping sharply after 60.
A new stabilometer index tracks this decline without hitting a ceiling, offering age-specific reference values for assessing balance in healthy adults.
Key findings
01Dynamic balance scores decline significantly with age across all measured indices.
02The index of postural stability did not show a ceiling effect, distinguishing high-performing young adults from those with lower scores.
03Balance under difficult conditions (eyes closed, soft surface) decreased linearly with age, while easier conditions showed a sharper drop after middle age.
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 study included only healthy adults, excluding those with known balance disorders, so the reference values may not apply to clinical populations with pathology. This was a cross-sectional study, so it describes age-related differences across groups rather than tracking individual decline over time. The study did not assess the predictive validity of these scores for actual falls.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use these reference values to diagnose balance disorders in patients with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, as the study only included healthy individuals.