Abstract

The study deals with the assessment of the impact of the age, falls, and exercise programme on the postural stability in 59 seniors (9 men) at the age of 72 to 94. Within 9 months we conducted three measurements on the dynamometric board Kistler and assessed the anteroposterior and lateral speed of swinging, the area of stabilogram, and the dominance of a swinging direction in two 30-second tests with the sight control in the stance with feet side by side - on the firm mat and on the plastic foam. In the initial measurement younger seniors (up to the age of 85) had average values of stabilometric parameters significantly lower in both tests than seniors over this age limit (p<0.0004-0.02). The younger seniors without recorded falls showed both swinging speeds lower and had a smaller stabilogram area on average than groups with frequent falls, esp. in the test performed on the plastic foam. The exercise programme was focused on improvement of the static and dynamic balance. Exercises were performed in the sitting and standing position. The programme took three months, three times 30 minutes a week. The second measurement was held after finnishing the first one, and the third one in the space of 6 months. The younger exercising group, when compared with the control group, had a lower anteroposterior speed in the firm mat test (from 11.6 mm/s to 10.9 mm/s) in the second measurement, and significantly lower lateral speed (p<0.02) in the plastic foam test in the third measurement when compared with the first one. The stabilogram area became smaller on average under the influence of the exercise. That area reduction did not outlast half a year, but the exercising individuals kept the change of swinging direction dominance from the anteroposterior to the lateral in contrast with the control group. The anteroposterior speed in the plastic foam test was reduced, and the stabilogram area became smaller in both tests under the influence of the exercise in the seniors over 85. The study confirmed a deteriorated stability affected by the age and frequent falls, and a favourable impact of the exercise on its improvement in the seniors. Such a result, however, can be valid only if the exercise programme is performed regularly and in the long term. Verf.-Referat