Balance control strategies of older adults during a functional lifting task

The purpose of this study was to explore the anticipatory postural adjustments healthy older adults (n=5, aged 70.2 +/- 2.39 yrs.) used to stabilize balance during a functional arm movement. CP displacement in the frontal (T-35=91.6, p<.05) and sagittal (T-35=90.9, p<.05) planes began before the onset of the movement. The onset of the CP displacements in the two planes did not occur simultaneously (T-35=5.723, p<.05). Healthy older adults are able to select direction specific anticipatory postural adjustments during an asymmetrical lifting task. Further analysis is warranted to evaluate the influence of variations in the temporal and spatial characteristics of these postural adjustments on the control of posture in the frontal versus sagittal planes, and the associated risk of falling during this type of functional task.