Effects of physical and sporting activities on balance control in elderly people

Objective-Balance disorders increase with aging and raise the risk of accid ental falls in the elderly. It has been suggested that the practice of phys ical and sporting activities (PSA) efficiently counteracts these age relate d disorders, reducing the risk of falling significantly. Method-This study, principally based on a period during which the subjects were engaged in PSA, included 65 healthy subjects, aged over 60, who were l iving at home. Three series of posturographic tests (static, dynamic with a single and fast upward tilt, and dynamic with slow sinusoidal oscillations ) analysing the centre of foot pressure displacements or electromyographic responses were conducted to determine the effects of PSA practice on balanc e control. Results-The major variables of postural control were best in subjects who h ad always practised PSA (AA group). Those who did not take part in PSA at a ll (II group) had the worst postural performances, whatever the test. Subje cts having lately begun PSA practice (IA group) had good postural performan ces, close to those of the AA group, whereas the subjects who had stopped t he practice of PSA at an early age (AI group) did not perform as well. Over all, the postural control in the group studied decreased in the order AA>IA >AI>II. Conclusions-The period during which PSA are practised seems to be of major importance, having a positive bearing on postural control. It seems that re cent periods of practice have greater beneficial effects on the subject's p ostural stability than PSA practice only at an early age. These data are co mpatible with the fact that PSA are extremely useful for elderly people eve n if it has not been a lifelong habit.