Article

A flexed posture (FP) is characterized by protrusion of the head and an increased
thoracic kyphosis (TK), which may be caused by osteoporotic vertebral fractures
(VFs). These impairments may affect motor function, and consequently increase the
risk of falling and fractures.
The aim of the current study was therefore to
examine postural control during walking in elderly patients with FP, and to
investigate the relationship with geriatric phenomena that may cause FP, such as
increased TK, VFs, frailty, polypharmacy and cognitive impairments. Fifty-six
elderly patients (aged 80 +/- 5.2 years; 70% female) walked 160 m at
self-selected speed while trunk accelerations were recorded. Walking speed, mean
stride time and coefficient of variation (CV) of stride time were recorded. In
addition, postural control during walking was quantified by time-dependent
variability measures derived from the theory of stochastic dynamics, indicating
smoothness, degree of predictability, and local stability of trunk acceleration
patterns. Twenty-five patients (45%) had FP and demonstrated a more variable and
less structured gait pattern, and a more irregular trunk acceleration pattern
than patients with normal posture. FP was significantly associated with an
increased TK, but not with other geriatric phenomena. An increased TK may bring
the body's centre of mass forward, which requires correcting responses, and
reduces the ability to respond on perturbation, which was reflected by higher
variation in the gait pattern in FP-patients. Impairments in postural control
during walking are a major risk factor for falling: the results indicate that
patients with FP have impaired postural control during walking and might
therefore be at increased risk of falling.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS