Relationship between stabilometry and vertical force in jump evaluated in elderly women

Abstract

Background The aging process in people is associated with physiological changes, such as alterations in sensory processing capacity: visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems and loss of muscle mass. These alterations generate delays in propulsive forces, decreasing joint torques and loss speed of muscle contraction, increasing the risk of falls and accidents in elderly people. However, physical exercise is one effective strategy to improve balance control due to a great number of sensorial stimuli, increasing the motor unit recruiting and muscle fiber hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation among body composition, stabilometry and vertical force in elderly women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 30 elderly women (63.9Æ4.24 years). The research used stabilometry test (Romberg Test: center of pressure – COP) and explosive strength (Bosco Test: squat jump – SJ, countermovement – CMJ and Abalakov –ABK) on force platforms BTS - P 6000 area 60 x 40 cm (with 1 kHz as sample frequency). The data were collected for 3 trials for each subject analyzed using Nonparametric and parametric statistics. Results Correlations found among the maximum force of landing peak with the trace length COP in stabilometry with open eyes (r = 0.36; p = 0.047), with closed eyes (r = 0.44; p = 0.014), the speed of COP with open eyes (r = 0.36; p = 0.047), with closed eyes (r = 0.45; p = 0.012). Conclusions The results suggest that higher levels of force may increase the overall capacity in the balance control and make postural adjustments that help to reduce the risks of falls in elderly. Public health efforts to reduce falls should include explosive strength in the exercise programs, such as a strategy diagnostic to assess static and dynamic balance in this population.