The Selection of Pretest States and Parameters in Identifying the Age Effect Through the Center of Pressure (COP) Measurement

Abstract

The COP test is a simple tool for judging balance ability. However, its reliability for fall prediction is strongly challenged by its static nature and the contradictory results published in previous studies. The inconsistencies were possible results of negligence of prestate conditions prior to measurement. In this study, we explored these prestate effects on COP by investigating 21 seniors and 28 students. The results show that by adding a dynamic pretest activity, the static COP test could detect dynamic characteristics to a certain degree. Among the three prestates—sitting, standing, and walking—inspected in this study, the best prestate for the identification of age effect is walking. The spectrum analysis determined that the body sway consists mainly of frequencies below 2 Hz, and the age difference lies in the domain of 0–0.8 Hz. Therefore, to study the sensorimotor degradation related to aging, the prestate of walking would be most effective.

This study was funded by a University of Lethbridge research grant. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ge Wu, Department of Physical Therapy, the University of Vermont, for her revision and proofreading of the manuscript.

Keywords:

• sensorimotor degradation
• fall
• walking prestate
• normalization
• spectrum analysis

Notes

This study was funded by a University of Lethbridge research grant. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ge Wu, Department of Physical Therapy, the University of Vermont, for her revision and proofreading of the manuscript.