ABSTRACT

The effects of footedness and aging on postural maintenance function were examined in this study. Using the postural maintenance task, the trajectories of the centre of pressure (COP) were measured with a stabilometer in the lateral and posterior/anterior directions. One hundred and ninety-three right-footers (112 middle-aged: 40–64 years old and 81 old-aged: 65–80 years old) and thirty-two left-footers (14 middle-aged and 18 old-aged) among healthy community members participated in this study. Using the ratio of the COP deviation area sizes for the open- vs. closed-eye conditions as an index, the ratios in the lateral and the posterior/anterior directions were compared in relation to the footedness and the age groups. The results indicated that the left-footers of the older adults group showed a larger COP deviation ratio than that of the middle-aged group, and the left-footers showed a larger deviation ratio in the lateral direction than in the posterior-anterior direction. These findings suggest a weak postural maintenance function of the older adults left footers. As most left-footers are left-handed, health promotion staff should notice that older adults who are left-handers are at a higher risk of falling.

摘要

本研究考察了足部和年龄对姿势维持功能的影响。使用姿势维护任务，压力中心 (COP) 的轨迹在横向和后/前方向上用稳定计测量。193名右脚球员（112名中年：40-64岁和81名老年：65-80岁）和三十二名左脚球员（14名中年和18名老年）在健康的社区成员中参与了这项研究。使用睁眼与闭眼条件下的 COP 偏差区域大小的比率作为指标，比较横向和后/前方向的比率与足部和年龄组的关系。结果表明，老年组左脚的COP偏差率大于中年组，左脚在横向方向上的偏差率大于后-前方向的偏差率。这些发现表明老年人左脚的姿势维持功能较弱。由于大多数左撇子都是左撇子，健康促进人员应该注意到左撇子的老年人跌倒的风险更高。