Thoracic Spine Mobility and Posture: Correlation and Predictive Values in Physically Independent Older Adults.

The posture undergoes changes during aging and may serve as a marker for the evaluation of the thoracic spine. This study aimed to correlate the variables for the evaluation of thoracic spine mobility and propose predictive equation models from the measurements of the thoracic Schober test and the digital inclinometer in older adults. The mobility of thoracic flexion and extension by levels (T1, T8 and T12) of 41 older adult subjects (66 ± 7 years) was quantified with a digital inclinometer (degrees) and Schober's test (cm).

The Impact of Parkinson's Disease on Postural Control in Older People and How Sex can Mediate These Results: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is most prevalent among elderly people, 65 years and over, and leads to an alteration in motor control associated with postural instability. Current evidence shows that postural control decreases with the aging process. In addition, postural control is more altered in healthy aged men than in women.

Low-Back Pain and Knee Position-Related Differences on Postural Control Measures During a One-Legged Stance in Athletes.

Context: Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) may be associated with changes in postural balance in athletes as poor postural control during sports practice.

Objective: To compare the postural control of athletes with and without CLBP during 2 one-legged stance tasks and identify the center of pressure (COP) cutoff values to determine the main differences. Designed: A cross-sectional study.

Effect of body mass index and fat mass on balance force platform measurements during a one-legged stance in older adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and fat mass on balance force platform measurements in older adults. The sample consisted of 257 participants who were stratified into four groups by BMI: low weight, normal weight, pre-obesity and obesity. For fat mass variables, older individuals were classified into low and high-fat mass.

Effects of Holding an External Load on the Standing Balance of Older and Younger Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of holding an external load on the standing balance of younger and older adults with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: Twenty participants with and 20 without CLBP participated in the study. Each group contained 10 younger (50% men) and 10 older adults (50% men).

Changes on Walking During Street Crossing Situations and on Dorsiflexion Strength of Older Caribbean Americans After an Exercise Program: A Pilot Study.

The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate a 6-month exercise program completed by 10 older Caribbean Americans. Assessments were done at baseline and 3 and 6 months, and included walks on an instrumented mat at preferred speed, and during street crossing simulations with regular (10 s) and reduced time (5 s). There were no significant differences on preferred walking speed over time.

Effect of different types of exercise on postural balance in elderly women: a randomized controlled trial.

Different types of exercise are indicated for the elderly to prevent functional capacity limitations due to aging and reduce the risk of falls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different exercises (mini-trampoline, MT; aquatic gymnastics, AG and general floor gymnastics, GG) on postural balance in elderly women. Seventy-four physically independent elderly women, mean age 69±4 years, were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: (1) MT (n=23), (2) AG (n=28), and (3) GG (n=23).

Older adults present better back endurance than young adults during a dynamic trunk extension exercise.

Background And Objective: Poor back endurance is a predictor of low back pain. Few studies have investigated back muscle fatigue in older people. The purpose of this study was to compare the back muscle fatigue by endurance time and perceived effort between young and older adults during dynamic exercise.