title: Age-related hip proprioception declines: effects on postural sway and dynamic balance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of age on hip proprioception, and determine whether age-related hip proprioception declines disrupt balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of proprioception and balance differences between 3 age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  University balance laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteer sample of independent community-dwelling adults (N=102) without sensory or other neurologic impairments in 3 age groups: younger (mean age, 24.6y; range, 19-37y), mid-aged (mean age, 53.3y; range, 40-64y), and older adults (mean age, 76.3y; range, 65-94y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hip joint position sense (JPS) and kinesthesia were measured using a custom-built device. JPS error was determined by the magnitude of matching errors during vision and no-vision conditions. Kinesthesia was evaluated by the ability to detect passive limb rotation without vision. Postural sway was assessed during static stance and measured using root mean square of center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity of COP displacement. Clinical balance and fear of falling were assessed with the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both older and mid-aged adults had significantly increased JPS error compared with younger adults (P<.05). Kinesthesia accuracy was significantly decreased in older adults compared with mid-aged and younger adults (P≤.01). Both measures of proprioception error correlated with age (P≤.001). There were no relationships between hip proprioception error and postural sway during static stance. However, older adults with lower proprioceptive error had significantly higher mini-BESTest scores of dynamic balance abilities (P=.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide evidence of significant hip proprioception declines with age. Although these declines are not related to increases in postural sway, participants with hip proprioception declines demonstrated disrupted dynamic balance, as indicated by decreased mini-BESTest scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Wellness, University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC. Electronic address: jwingert@unca.edu.
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wingert
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welder
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: ABC; AP; Activities-specific Balance Confidence (Scale); Aging; CI; COP(D); COP(V); FDR; JPS; Kinesthesis; ML; Postural balance; Proprioception; RMS; Rehabilitation; anterior-posterior; center of pressure displacement; confidence interval; false discovery rate; joint position sense; medial-lateral; mini-BESTest; mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test; root mean square; velocity of center of pressure displacement