Recurrence Quantification Analysis of Human Postural Fluctuations in Older Fallers and Non-fallers

We investigate postural sway data dynamics in older adult fallers and non-fallers. Center of pressure (COP) signals were recorded during quiet standing in 28 older adults. The subjects were divided in two groups: with and without history of falls. COP time series were analyzed using recurrence quant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of biomedical engineering 2013-08, Vol.41 (8), p.1713-1725
Main Authors: Ramdani, Sofiane, Tallon, Guillaume, Bernard, Pierre Louis, Blain, Hubert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidental Falls
Adaptation, Physiological - physiology
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Biochemistry
Biological and Medical Physics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Biomedicine
Biophysics
Classical Mechanics
Computer Simulation
Female
Foot - physiology
Fractals
Humans
Life Sciences
Male
Models, Biological
Models, Statistical
Movement - physiology
Postural Balance - physiology
Posture - physiology
Pressure
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
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Summary:We investigate postural sway data dynamics in older adult fallers and non-fallers. Center of pressure (COP) signals were recorded during quiet standing in 28 older adults. The subjects were divided in two groups: with and without history of falls. COP time series were analyzed using recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) in both anteroposterior and mediolateral (ML) directions. Classical stabilometric variables (path length and range) were also computed. The results showed that RQA outputs quantifying predictability of COP fluctuations and Shannon entropy of recurrence plot diagonal line length distribution, were significantly higher in fallers, only for ML direction. In addition, the range of ML COP signals was also significantly higher in fallers. This result is in accordance with some findings of the literature and could be interpreted as an increased hip strategy in fallers. The RQA results seem coherent with the theory of loss of complexity with aging and disease. Our results suggest that RQA is a promising approach for the investigation of COP fluctuations in a frail population.
ISSN:0090-6964
1573-9686
DOI:10.1007/s10439-013-0790-x