Balancing on One Leg Is Most Reliable Measure of Neuromuscular Aging
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2024 -- Duration of one-legged balance is the most reliable measure of neuromuscular aging for both older men and women, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in PLOS ONE.
Asghar Rezaei, Ph.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues investigated potential age-related declines in gait, balance, and strength, and assessed any relationships between the three parameters, as well as potential differences between women and men. The analysis included 40 healthy individuals older than 50 years.
The researchers found that gait parameters were not significantly affected by age, while knee and grip strength, along with several balance parameters, showed a significant decline with age. While all individuals were able to maintain bipedal balance, their center of pressure movement increased significantly by age. Compared with other factors, unipedal stance time was found to be the most affected by age. Per decade, the duration of unipedal balance declined by −0.62 standard deviations for the nondominant side and −0.53 for the dominant side. Sex differences were only seen for strength parameters, but did not impact the decline in balance parameters.
"The importance of balance, especially in unipedal stance, arises from the fact that it requires multiple sensory inputs and neuromuscular control, in addition to adequate muscle strength," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Urinary Metal Levels Tied to Increased Risk for Later Heart Failure
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- There are consistent associations between elevated urinary metal levels and increased heart failure risk over time across geographically diverse cohorts...
Higher Temperatures Tied to Increased Probability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Higher temperatures across the globe are associated with an increased probability of having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published...
Tons of Turkey Bacon Products Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 — Kraft Heinz Foods is recalling some 370,000 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon products that may be contaminated with listeria, the U.S...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.