Comparing postural balance among older adults and Parkinson's disease patients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare postural balance among healthy older adults and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients during one-legged stance balance. We recruited 36 individuals of both sexes and divided them into two groups: healthy older adults (HG), and individuals with PD (PG). All the participants were assessed through a single-leg balance test, with eyes open, during 30 seconds (30 seconds of rest across trials) on a force platform. Balance parameters were computed from mean across trials to quantify postural control: center of pressure (COP) area and mean velocity in both directions of movement, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral. Significant differences between-group were reported for area of COP (P = 0.002) and mean velocity in anterior-posterior direction (P = 0.037), where poor postural control was related to PD patients rather than to healthy individuals. One-legged stance balance was a sensitive task used to discriminate poor postural control in Parkinson individuals.