The Effect of Fall Risks on the Kinematics of Head Movement during Functional Balance Tests

Falls are the leading cause of death in people over the age of 65 [1]. It has been suggested that head position and stabilization during locomotor tasks is an important factor contributing to balance maintenance in older adults [2]. However, the relationship between head stability and postural balance has not been clearly demonstrated. Few studies are available to examine the relationship between head stability and balance performances.

Accordingly, this study was aimed to investigate and compare the characteristics of head movement during voluntary movements in older adult fallers, older adult nonfallers and young adults, and correlate their head movement with two functional balance performance scores, the Functional Reach (FR) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG). We hypothesized that the head position and range of movement would be significantly larger in old fallers than in nonfallers and young adults during voluntary movements, and that these head movement characteristics would be associated with their functional balance performances.