The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
-
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jan 1997
Age differences in using a rapid step to regain balance during a forward fall.
Earlier studies showed that healthy old adults have substantially reduced abilities to develop joint torques rapidly. We hypothesized that this age decline would reduce abilities to regain balance once a forward fall is underway. The present study examined whether aging in fact reduces ability to regain balance by taking a single, rapid step upon release from a forward lean. ⋯ Substantial age-related declines in the ability to regain balance by taking a rapid step exist among healthy adults when the time available for recovery is short. The source of the decline seems largely to lie in the decrease with age of maximum response execution speed rather than in the sensory or motor programming processes involved in response initiation.