Age-related changes in the capacity to select early-onset upper-limb reactions to either recover balance or protect against impact.

Falling is a leading cause of serious injury, loss of independence and nursing home admission in seniors. Arm reactions induced by a sudden loss of balance can play an important role in preventing falls and protecting against injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unpredictable perturbation characteristics on perturbation-triggered early-onset balance-recovery and impact-protection arm reactions.

Clinical assessment of reactive balance control in acquired brain injury: A comparison of manual and cable release-from-lean assessment methods.

Objective: Perturbation-evoked stepping reactions are infrequently assessed directly in clinical settings even though stepping reactions in response to a sudden loss-of-balance perturbation ultimately determine whether a fall occurs. Individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) due to stroke who are ambulatory and awaiting hospital discharge have been found to exhibit delayed stepping reactions but are typically discharged without assessment of perturbation-evoked stepping. Tests that specifically target the capacity to perform perturbation-evoked stepping reactions are important to identify those at risk for falls and to direct intervention strategies.