Differential effects of a visuospatial attention task on measures of postural control in young and older adults

作者：Peterson Jeffrey J; Keenan Kevin G^*

来源：Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 2018, 38: 162-167.

DOI：10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.12.004

• Aging
• Postural control
• Balance
• Attention
• Dual-task

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a visuospatial attention task on three measures of postural control in young and older adults. 20 young (19-36 years) and 20 older (67-91 years) adults performed a choice stepping response time (CSRT) task, a submaximal dorsiflexion force steadiness task, and quiet standing in 3 bilateral stances. All tasks were performed with and without a visuospatial (VS) attention task that involved visualizing a star moving within a 2x2 grid. CSRT increased with the addition of the VS task in both groups (p < .001), with a larger increase for older adults than young adults (p <.001). Older adults were less steady while performing the dorsiflexion task with the VS task (p <.001), while the VS task did not influence steadiness in young adults (p =. 235). Performance during quiet standing was not influenced by the VS task in any stance (p >.084). The findings suggest that visuospatial attention differentially affects postural control in young and older adults and the effect is task-specific. These findings suggest the need to include stepping and force control tasks to further determine what role visuospatial attention plays in postural control.

• 出版日期2018-2