Age-related changes in balance performance

Abstract

The postural stability of 1280 healthy subjects (640 males and 640 females) between the ages of 6 and 85 years was measured using a modified single limb stance timed test. Balance performance for both sexes increased with chronological age but peaked at different ages. The males' performance with eyes opened and eyes closed peaked at the third decade of life, after which a progressive decline was found. The females' performance with eyes opened and eyes closed peaked at the fourth decade of life and thereafter progressively declined. Except for the first decade of life, males performed better (p < 0.001) than females at all ages. The results of the stepwise regression analyses revealed that stature and body weight were the two viable anthropometric determinants of balance performance; the contribution of body surface area and body adiposity to the prediction of balance performance was negligible.