Assessment the Risk of Falls Versus Postural Stability of the Elderly, Using a Stabilographic Platform

Aim: The purpose of this study was to show the characteristics of postural stability in the aging process of elderly people, using the stabilography method and risk assessment of falling occurring in this age group.
Materials and methods: The overall study included 36 people engaged in the therapeutic process in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre in Krzeszowice ORNR. Their average age was 69,42 (± 7,12) years. The test consisted of unconstrained standing on the stabilograph platform for 30 seconds in different experimental conditions: (1) Unconstrained standing with open eyes, (2) Unconstrained standing with closed eyes, (3) Unconstrained standing with open eyes after 6 revolutions on the Barany's chair.
Results: This research showed that the posture of elderly people is characterized by higher values of displacement/ COP lean in the sagittal plane rather than frontal plane. Furthermore, it demonstrated that limitations in impulses from sensory inputs (vestibular and visual system) result in an increase of oscillations of the stabilogram graphic curve. However, no strong link between the values of individual measurements (stabilogram) and the occurrence of fall was established.
Conclusions: This study showed the usefulness of the stabilography method in describing the stability of the human body. Yet, in order to determine the objectivity of this method, further tests need to be done on larger sample groups and norms regarding people of different ages have to be elaborated. The results obtained in this research might however contribute towards the development of modern accident prevention programs.