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Measures of static postural control moderate the association of strength and power with functional dynamic balance

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Abstract

Background and aims

Age-related reductions in strength and power are considered to negatively impact balance control, but the existence of a direct association is still an issue of debate. This is possibly due to the fact that balance assessment is complex, reflects different underlying physiologic mechanisms and involves quantitative measurements of postural sway or timing of performance during balance tasks. The present study evaluated the moderator effect of static postural control on the association of power and strength with dynamic balance tasks.

Methods

Fifty-seven healthy 65–75 year old individuals performed tests of dynamic functional balance (walking speed under different conditions) and of strength, power and static postural control.

Results and conclusions

Dynamic balance performance (walking speed) was associated with lower limb strength and power, as well as postural control under conditions requiring postural adjustments (narrow surface walking r 2 = 0.31, p < 0.001). An interaction effect between strength and static postural control was found with narrow surface walking and talking while walking (change of β 0.980, p < 0.001 in strength for 1 SD improvements in static postural control for narrow walking, and \( \beta \) −0.730, p < 0.01 in talking while walking). These results indicate that good static postural control facilitates the utilisation of lower limb strength to better perform complex, dynamic functional balance tasks. Practical implications for assessment and training are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out with the support of IRCSET “Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology”.

The authors wish to thank Sheena Murphy and Josianne Rodriguez Krause for their help during testing sessions.

On behalf of all authors the corresponding author declares the absence of any financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. She also declares the authors have full control of all primary data and allow the journal to review our data if requested.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Newstead Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland

    Roberta Forte, Colin A. G. Boreham & Giuseppe De Vito

  2. Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Hull, Hull, UK

    Massimiliano Ditroilo

  3. Department of Human Movement and Sport, Università degli Studi di Roma, “Foro Italico”, Piazza L. De Bosis 15, 00135, Rome, Italy

    Roberta Forte & Caterina Pesce

Authors
  1. Roberta Forte
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  2. Colin A. G. Boreham
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  3. Giuseppe De Vito
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  4. Massimiliano Ditroilo
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  5. Caterina Pesce
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberta Forte.

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Forte, R., Boreham, C.A.G., De Vito, G. et al. Measures of static postural control moderate the association of strength and power with functional dynamic balance. Aging Clin Exp Res 26, 645–653 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0216-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0216-0

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