TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Age dependency of neuromuscular function and dynamic balance control
JO  - European journal of sport science
A1  - Piirainen, Jarmo M.
A1  - Avela, Janne
A1  - Sippola, Niina
A1  - Linnamo, Vesa
SP  - 69
EP  - 69
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
N2  - The purpose of the present study was to examine whether static and dynamic balance control are related to neuromuscular function and ageing. For this purpose, we constructed a new dynamic balance measurement system that simulates natural falling. Ten young (age 21-31 years) and 20 elderly (age 60-70 years) men participated in the experiment. Maximal isometric torque (MVC) and activation level were measured from the quadriceps and plantar flexor muscles. The H-reflex, V-wave, and maximal M-wave were measured from the soleus muscle. In dynamic balance control, anterior-posterior centre-of-pressure swaying was 74±8.1 mm in the young men and 91.5±19.4 mm in the elderly men (P<0.05), whereas in the static condition there were no significant differences between the two groups. Knee extension MVC (young: 181±42 N·m; elderly: 135±39 N·m; P<0.01), torque after 500 ms (young: 147±36 N·m; elderly: 108±39 N·m; P<0.05), and activation level (young: 96.2±0.8%; elderly: 93.8±2.1%; P<0.01) were higher in the young than the elderly men; no differences were observed in plantar flexion. The amount of re-stabilization after a sudden disturbance seems to be an age-related phenomenon, which is seen as a connection between balance control and rapid force production.<p />
LA  - 
SN  - 1746-1391
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17461390903100254
ID  - ref1
ER  -