Age-related Changes of Magnitude of Body Sway in Older Persons Living in a Mainstream Community

This study investigated age-related changes of magnitude of body sway in older persons living in a mainstream community. The subjects were 637 older adults (263 males, 374 females) aged 67 to 91 years, living in Nangai Village in Japan. The subjects, while wearing shoes, stood stationary and upright on a force platform with their feet together (Romberg stance) for 20 seconds with their eyes open and 20 seconds with eyes closed. Body sway length and body sway area were calculated as magnitude of body sway.Body sway length and body sway area increased with age. Values for body sway length and body sway area with eyes open were significantly lower than those with eyes closed. Values of body sway length in the female group were significantly lower than those in the male group. Body sway area in the female group was almost equal to that in the male group.