Properties Balance Control Associated with Unexpected Loss of Balance: Age-related Differences

A model is the first step in understanding any natural phenomenon. Reaching an understanding of human movement behavior must, by its very nature, be a long-term study, and a yardstick is required to track our progress. Testing age-related differences in property balance control associated with compensatory rapid leg movements ("postural reflexes") to unexpected perturbation of balance during walking and standing in both single- and dual-task conditions provides answers to a basic hypothesis driven from our past research. We hypothesized that compensatory balance reaction to external unexpected perturbations of posture although thought to be reflexive in nature, will be significantly different between young and old. These automatic `reflex-like responses" in older adults will be less flexible due to a reduced balance abilities, while younger ones will demonstrate more adaptive/flexible balance responses. In our research we used the BaMPer system that was developed and built in Ben-Gurion University in collaboration between the Physical Therapy and Mechanical Engineering Departments—a device with abilities to produce unexpected perturbations of balance during walking and standing. The implications of the proposed research study will impact many aspects of medicine, life sciences, engineering and social sciences.