Author: Gatica-Rojas V1, Cartes-Velásquez R2, Salgado-Méndez R3, Castro-Ramírez R3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Human Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Chile.
<sup>2</sup>School of Dentistry, Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
<sup>3</sup>School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Talca, Chile.
Conference/Journal: J Phys Ther Sci.
Date published: 2016 Aug
Other:
Volume ID: 28 , Issue ID: 8 , Pages: 2350-2352 , Word Count: 187
[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the correlation between center of pressure and functional balance in non-faller elderly practitioners of Tai Chi. [Subjects and Methods] For the study, nine non-faller elderly practitioners of Tai Chi who were able to maintain a standing posture and walk independently were recruited. Timed one-leg standing and timed up-and-go tests were used as functional balance tests and force platform to measure the center of pressure. The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the timed up-and-go/timed one-leg standing test scores and center of pressure parameter values. [Results] None of the correlations was statistically significant, but moderate correlations were observed between the pairs timed one-leg standing/sway area of center of pressure, timed one-leg standing/standard deviation of center of pressure in the mediolateral direction, timed one-leg standing/mean velocity of center of pressure in the anteroposterior direction, and timed up-and-go test sway area of center of pressure. [Conclusion] Timed one-leg standing is more appropriate than timed up-and-go test for the measurement of functional balance in non-faller elderly practitioners of Tai Chi.
KEYWORDS: Center of pressure; Functional assessment; Older adults
PMID: 27630430 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.28.2350