TY - JOUR AU - Zeynalzadeh Ghoochani, B. AU - Derakhshanrad, S.A. AU - Hosseini, S.A. PY - 2019/09/15 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - A cross-sectional study to investigate dominant leg balance performance in healthy elderly individuals JF - JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS JA - Gerontology and Geriatrics VL - 67 IS - 3 SE - Clinical Geriatrics - Original Investigations DO - UR - https://www.jgerontology-geriatrics.com/article/view/43 SP - 141-147 AB - Background. Examining underlying balance mechanism of the elderly can help identify their Achilles’ heel ofbalance system. The research aim was to investigate the dominant leg balance characteristics of a sample ofolder adults while being challenged by sensory inputs and performing dual task.Methods. This study was performed on 20 healthy elderly subjects during four conditions of one-leg standingwith different levels of difficulty including: “open eyes”, “dual task with open eyes”, “closed eyes” and “dualtask with closed eyes”. Forceplate was used to evaluate postural control during standing on dominant legmeasuring “Area” and “Velocity” as the dependent variables. Auditory Stroop task was used to simulate performing a secondary activity (dual task). Using Bonferoni post hoc test, Repeated Measurement Analysis ofVariance was executed to find the differences between the conditions.Results. Comparisons showed significant differences of “Area” [F (3, 13) = 10.143, p = 0.001] and “Velocity”[F (9, 13) = 9.692, p = 0.001]. Bonferoni test revealed that all four conditions had significant differences excepttwo pairs including (a) “open eyes” with “dual task with open eyes”, and (b) “closed eyes” with “dual task withclosed eyes” (p > 0.05).Conclusions. Results indicated that participants adopted a strategy to increase “Area” and “Velocity” duringthe challenge of standing on dominant leg with closed eyes. This is their tactic to maintain balance during theelimination of visual input. Exploring balance strategy would have important implications for developing longterm fall prevention programs. ER -