Effect of age on body segment tilt responses to lower leg muscle vibration

Balance impairment frequently seen in elderly represents risk factors for falls and subsequent injury, for example fractures. Aging is occasionally accompanied by age-related pathologies, like Parkinson’s disease, which hinder independent mobility and lead to postural instability. Adequate postural control depends on the integration of vestibular, somatosensory and visual information about the body motion. The analysis of changes in these sensory systems has shown agerelated deterioration and the contribution of the each sensory modalities to balance control is modified by age. Important indicators of human balance control are postural responses to altered sensory inputs. Body lean responses to vibrations of lower leg muscles were investigated in order to understand the influence of age and proprioceptive input from lower leg in human stance.