Applied Research Collaborative, Space Center Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2022 May 18;17(5):e0268030. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268030. eCollection 2022.
Screening standing and walking balance is useful for people suspected of having vestibular disorders, a variety of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders, and for screening astronauts returning after exposure to microgravity. Visitors to a community science education center children and adults, aged 4 to 85, were tested on tandem walking with eyes closed and the modified Romberg test on compliant foam. They were then asked about their experience participating in research, many people for the first time.
Subjects performed 10 steps of tandem walking with eyes closed, and three trials of the modified Romberg, or Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance, with eyes closed, standing on compliant memory foam, with a) head still, b) head shaking in yaw, and c) head nodding in pitch. Afterward, staff queried subjects about the experience of participating in science.
Age-related changes across the life span occurred in both sets of tests. Therefore, look-up tables by age are provided. Body mass index significantly affected tandem walking. Some sex differences were found. The tests were easy to administer in a community setting. Most participants enjoyed the experience and reported that they learned about the process of scientific research.
These data support and extend the evidence for age-related changes in balance performance across the lifespan and for an influence of body mass index on some balance skills. Clinicians and sports educators should be cognizant of these differences when they use these tests for screening. The community science education environment provided a useful laboratory in which to collect valid and reliable data, while simultaneously educating participants about the process of science.
筛查站立和行走平衡对怀疑有前庭障碍、各种神经和肌肉骨骼疾病的人以及对暴露于微重力后返回的宇航员进行筛查非常有用。社区科学教育中心的访客包括儿童和成人，年龄在 4 岁至 85 岁之间，他们在闭着眼睛的情况下进行了双脚并拢行走测试和改良 Romberg 测试（在弹性泡沫上进行）。然后，他们被问及参与研究的经验，许多人是第一次参与。
参与者闭着眼睛进行 10 步双脚并拢行走测试，以及三次闭眼站立在弹性记忆泡沫上的改良 Romberg 测试或临床感觉综合与平衡测试，分别是 a)头部静止，b)头部在侧倾方向晃动，c)头部在俯仰方向点头。之后，工作人员询问参与者参与科学研究的体验。
在这两项测试中，都观察到了与年龄相关的整个生命周期中的变化。因此，提供了按年龄的对照表。体重指数显著影响了双脚并拢行走测试。还发现了一些性别差异。这些测试在社区环境中易于管理。大多数参与者喜欢这种体验，并表示他们了解了科学研究的过程。
这些数据支持并扩展了平衡表现随年龄变化的证据，以及体重指数对某些平衡技能的影响。临床医生和运动教育者在使用这些测试进行筛查时应该意识到这些差异。社区科学教育环境为收集有效和可靠的数据提供了一个有用的实验室，同时也教育参与者了解科学研究的过程。
