Postural control and age.

We quantified the effect of vision, pressoreceptor function and proprioception on the postural stability at different ages. Altogether 212 healthy volunteers (ages from 6 to 90 years) were examined by using a computerised force platform. The sway velocity (SV) was measured with eyes open and eyes closed during quiet stance on a bare platform and a foam plastic covered surface. In addition, to study the proprioceptive system, pseudorandom vibration perturbation was applied on the calf muscles. The SV showed a U-shaped curve: the children and the oldest swayed most. Equilibrium was most stable around 50 years. The visual system was of most importance for balance control in the old. The children were sensitive of pressoreceptor and proprioceptive perturbation, indicating the importance of these systems for their postural control.