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Dynamic balance control in elders: gait initiation assessment as a screening toolOBJECTIVE: To determine whether measurements of center of gravity-center of pressure separation (CG-CP moment arm) during gait initiation can differentiate healthy from disabled subjects with sufficient specificity and sensitivity to be useful as a screening test for dynamic balance in elderly patients. SUBJECTS: Three groups of elderly subjects (age, 74.97+/-6.56 yrs): healthy elders (HE, n = 21), disabled elders (DE, n = 20), and elders with vestibular hypofunction (VH, n = 18). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, intact-groups research design. Peak CG-CP moment arm measures how far the subject will tolerate the whole-body CG to deviate from the ground reaction force's CP; it represents dynamic balance control. Screening test cutoff points at 16 to 18 cm peak CG-CP moment arm predicted group membership. RESULTS: The magnitude of peak CG-CP moment arm was significantly greater in HE than in DE and VH subjects (p<.01) and was not different between the DE and VH groups. The peak CG-CP moment arm occurred at the end of single stance phase in all groups. As a screening test, the peak moment arm has greater than 50% sensitivity and specificity to discriminate the HE group from the DE and VH groups with peak CG-CP moment arm cutoff points between 16 and 18 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Examining dynamic balance through the use of the CG-CP moment arm during single stance in gait initiation discriminates between nondisabled and disabled older persons and warrants further investigation as a potential tool to identify people with balance dysfunction.
Document ID
20040141961
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Chang, H.
(Graduate Program of Postprofessional Physical Therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions Boston 02114-4719, United States)
Krebs, D. E.
Wall, C. C.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
Volume: 80
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0003-9993
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: R01AG11255
CONTRACT_GRANT: R01AG12561
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Neuroscience
Non-NASA Center

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