UDC

612.6:616-053:616.7:616.8

Authors

Aleksandr V. Demin*, Anatoliy V. Gribanov*, Mikhail N. Pankov*,
Ol’ga N. Popova**, Andrey B. Gudkov*/**
*Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation)
**Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation)

Abstract

Falls due to old age is a serious problem for the elderly. Although they are typical for people aged 65 years and over, recent evidence suggests that women are at risk of falling as early as at 50. Therefore, this work aimed to study the characteristics of oscillatory movements of the centre of gravity (CG) within the base of support in women aged 55–64 years at risk of becoming geriatric fallers. The research involved 88 women aged between 55 and 64 years (mean age 60.2 ± 3.2 years). The group under study included 44 women who had experienced two or more falls in the previous 6–8 months (at risk of becoming geriatric fallers). The control group consisted of 44 women of the same age who had not experienced a single fall within the previous 12 months. To assess the characteristics of CG movements, Smart Equitest Balance Manager was used. The following tests were performed: Motor Control Test (MCT) and Rhythmic Weight Shift (RWS). A comparative evaluation of MCT identified a decline in postural response in women aged 55–64 years at risk of becoming geriatric fallers. The analysis of the RWS test revealed deteriorated quality of CG control in the frontal and sagittal planes, as well as decreased CG movement rate in the sagittal plane in women aged 55–64 years at risk of becoming geriatric fallers. Thus, declining postural response and deteriorating quality of CG control in the frontal and sagittal planes in women aged 55–64 years increase their risk of becoming geriatric fallers.

Keywords

women aged 55–64 years, computerized posturography (stabilometry), centre of gravity, falls, postural instability, rate of ageing, quality of life

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