Comparison the Symmetry in Postural Sway while Maintaining Static Balance in Elderly Women with and without Poor Central Stability

The aim of the present study is to compare the symmetry of postural sway while maintaining static balance in elderly women with and without poor central stability.

The statistical sample of the study was made up of 16 elderly women over 55 years of age, who were selected using available and targeted sampling. Subjects were placed on the force plate to perform balance analysis, and according to the protocol described in the balance evaluation process section, their posture sway were evaluated in the medio-lateral, anterior-posterior, and total directions. Independent t-tests were conducted using SPSS version 26 statistical software to compare the groups (P < 0.05).

The research showed that the postural sway of the left support leg in the medio-lateral direction (toward the medial side) and the right support leg in the anterior-posterior direction (toward the posterior side) in the group of elderly women with instability in the central region was higher (P < 0.05). Also, the average index of imbalance in both left and right limbs in both medio-lateral and anterior-posterior directions in two groups of elderly women with and without instability in the central region showed the greatest difference in the medio-lateral direction of the right leg (0.77 cm). Comparing the percentage of balance asymmetry index in the group of elderly women with and without instability in the central region also showed the greatest asymmetry in the medio-lateral direction (P = 0.010, 32.65%).

From the results of the present research, it can be stated that there is a significant difference between elderly women with and without poor central stability in the symmetry of postural sway while maintaining static balance. Considering that the asymmetry in postural sway has a direct relationship with the loss of balance and the increase of falling, exercises that lead to an increase in central stability and thus improve their physical posture should be considered in the daily training protocol of the elderly.