Up-training loading responses in older adults

This randomized, experimental-control group, multiple-observation study exa mined the ability of older adults to use center of pressure feedback to up- train the vertical loading response (LR) and the impact that such training had on changes in clinical tests of balance. Eleven community ambulators, a ged at least 65 years, with no recent history of falls were recruited by co nvenience sampling. Each group received 6 baseline sessions and 6 control/t raining sessions, followed by I posttest session. All sessions included vis ual cueing about stance equilibrium followed by 30 randomly timed dynamic, toes-up perturbations (8 degrees, 66 degrees per second). Training consiste d of verbal instructions with visual and auditory feedback of a 225 msec re sponse window to shape an increase in total LR following perturbations. Sub jects in the experimental group demonstrated a tendency to decrease vertica l loading relative to baseline regardless of visual and verbal feedback enc ouraging strategies to increase it. Specifically the T3 or 150-225 msec com ponent of the response window showed a decline from session 7 to session 12 . Up-Training, however, appears to cause a faster rate of rise to the maint enance window, but this event probably occurs too late to correct for a los s of balance. No correlation was found between change in load values and ch ange in performance on clinical balance tests.