title: Practice-related improvements in postural control during rapid arm movement in older adults: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postural control associated with self-paced movement is critical for balance in older adults. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a virtual reality-based program on the postural control associated with rapid arm movement in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  From an upright standing position, participants performed rapid arm-raising movements toward a target. Practice-related changes were assessed by pre- and posttest comparisons of hand kinematics and center of pressure displacement parameters measured in a training group (mean age: 71.50 ± 2.67 years, n = 8) and a control group (mean age: 72.87 ± 3.09 years, n = 8). Training group participants took part in six sessions (35-40 minutes per session, three sessions per week). During the two test sessions, arm raising was analyzed under two conditions of stimuli: choice reaction time and simple reaction time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed improvements in the arm movement after training under both conditions of stimuli. The initial phase of the center of pressure displacement, especially the anticipatory postural adjustments, was improved in the choice reaction time condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our short training program resulted in motor optimization of the postural control associated with rapid arm movements, and this implies central changes in motor programming.
authors.affiliation: UFR STAPS, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. alexandre.kubicki@u-bourgogne.fr
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubicki
authors.forename: Geoffroy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrement
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonnetblanc
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ballay
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mourey
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*