Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the changes in postural sway (PS) related to age quantitatively. The movement in the center of gravityof the body projected into the base of support was used as a criterion of PS. It was measured in 45 subjects, 23 males and 22 females, ranging in age from 22.1 to 68.1. The subjects maintained erect posture with feet together for about 2 minutes with eyes open, and there after with eyes closed respectively.The measurement of PS has been made by measuring the weight at two points of the supporting platform. The degree of PS was calculated by using an electronic computer (HITAC-10-II). The following results were obtained. 1. The displacements of bodys center of gravity per 1 minute with eyes open as well as with eyes closed increased with age. The PS, however, showed a gradual increase with eyes open, and then it did a steep increase with eyes closed from the age of fifties. 2. The PS was reduced to two components, i.e., lateral (X)and antero-posterior (Y) ones. The ratio of the component to the X one (Y/X) with eyes open as well as with eyes closed showed a gradual decrease with age. Verf-Referat (gekuerzt)