Developmental Change of Gravity Center Sway

Abstract

In view of gravity center sway, developmental changes of postural stability in standing with ages can be summarized as follows: Postural stability markedly improves from childhood to the age of around 10 years, and tends to deteriorate sharply after the age of 60 years. Compared with men, women exhibit better postural stability through life with a smaller gravity sway. The point of gravity center from the heel is gradually shifted towards the toe until the age of young adult, and is unchanged after that. Of infants who have just been able to stand, both the support and motor feet are in the dominant side. The support foot is then dissociated from motor foot to the non-dominant side with motor development. © 1995, The Society of Physical Therapy Science. All rights reserved.