Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (7): 848-853.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2024.07.014

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Characteristics of cortical activation in balance control under different sensory strategies in the elderly

DONG Ping1, KAN Chaojie1, GUO Chuan2,3, ZHUANG Ren1, WANG Qinglei3, QIAN Xue1()   

  1. 1. Changzhou De'an Hospital, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213004, China
    2. The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
    3. The School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
  • Received:2024-02-28 Published:2024-07-25 Online:2024-08-07
  • Contact: QIAN Xue, E-mail: qianxuenurse@126.com
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFC3603604);Changzhou Health Commission Young Talent Science and Technology Project(QN202244)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the balance control abilities and cortical activation characteristics of elderly individuals under different sensory strategies.
Methods From January to May, 2023, 19 healthy young adults and 20 elderly individuals were recruited in Changzhou as control group and experimental group, respectively. Both groups wore functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) caps and performed balance control tasks on a balance platform under three different sensory strategies. Test A was 40 seconds of standing on a stable surface with eyes closed, Test B was 40 seconds of standing on an unstable surface with eyes open, and Test C was 40 seconds of standing on an unstable surface with eyes closed. Before and after the tests, both groups performed 40 seconds of standing on a stable surface with eyes open. The overall stability index (OSI) and cortical activation β values of the regions of interest (ROI) were measured and compared between two groups. The ROIs included the left premotor cortex (LPMC), right premotor cortex (RPMC), left sensorimotor cortex (LSMC), right sensorimotor cortex (RSMC), left prefrontal cortex (LPFC) and right prefrontal cortex (RPFC).
Results There was no significant difference in OSI and β values of each ROI in Tests A and B between two groups (P > 0.05). In Test C, there was a lower OSI in the experimental group (Z = -2.056, P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in the β values of RSMC (t = 2.623, PFDR < 0.05), LPMC (Z = -2.360, PFDR < 0.05) and LPFC (t = 3.202, PFDR < 0.05) between two groups.
Conclusion Elderly individuals experience a decline in balance control abilities, accompanied by increased activation in related brain regions, when both vision and proprioception are restricted.

Key words: elderly, sensory strategies, balance, cortical activation, functional near-infrared spectroscopy

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