Balance Control in Older Adults

Jaap H. van Dieën; Mirjam Pijnappels

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-74123-4_6

Balance Control in Older Adults

Jaap H. van Dieën^*, Mirjam Pijnappels

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

To avoid falls during everyday movements, we need to maintain balance, i.e., control the position of our body’s center of mass relative to our base of support. The balance control system comprises sensory subsystems, their afferent nerves, an extensive brain network, its efferent nerves, and the motor system. Physiological aging of each of these subsystems may limit the ability to control balance in standing and walking. To test the balance control in older adults, methods based on questionnaires, functional tests of posture and movement are available. More advanced methods may quantify the ability to control or regain balance or the performance of specific subsystems.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Locomotion and Posture in Older Adults
Subtitle of host publication	The Role of Aging and Movement Disorders
Editors	Fabio Augusto Barbieri, Rodrigo Vitório, Paulo Cezar Rocha dos Santos
Publisher	Springer Nature
Pages	93-120
Number of pages	28
Edition	2nd
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031741234
ISBN (Print)	9783031741227, 9783031741258
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-74123-4_6
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2017, 2024.

Keywords

Aging
Brain
Falls
Gait
Muscle
Posture
Proprioception
Standing
Vestibular system
Visual system

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10.1007/978-3-031-74123-4_6

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Balance Control in Older Adults. / van Dieën, Jaap H.; Pijnappels, Mirjam.
Locomotion and Posture in Older Adults: The Role of Aging and Movement Disorders. ed. / Fabio Augusto Barbieri; Rodrigo Vitório; Paulo Cezar Rocha dos Santos. 2nd. ed. Springer Nature, 2025. p. 93-120.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Pijnappels, Mirjam

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2017, 2024.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

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Balance Control in Older Adults

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