ABNORMALITIES OF BALANCE GAIT AND SENSORIMOTOR FUNCTION

我们已经确定，很大一部分老年疗养院 有多次福尔斯跌倒史的居民， 步态和平衡的异常。 使用简单的定量测试 平衡（姿势压力测试），结合更多 在平衡平台上进行全面测试，以及定量步态 分析作为预测因素，我们建议进行一项为期4年的纵向研究 在1,300名居民的健康相关设施，以确定我们的能力， 预测未来福尔斯的发生，并描述 老年人跌倒的自然史 在那些有过 福尔斯，我们已经证明：受损的权力，特别是在 踝背屈肌，下肢震颤减少， 本体感觉功能和CT异常（低密度）， 半球状白色物质。 使用一组120名跌倒者和对照组， 在纵向研究中，以病例对照的形式，我们将确定 跌倒的生理基础 这将通过以下方式实现： 上述步态和平衡的感觉和 运动功能障碍，并最终导致神经系统的病变和/或疾病。 系统 跌倒的预测性测试和对 感觉运动功能障碍潜在的福尔斯将很容易适用于 改善我们治疗跌倒的方法

We have determined that a significant portion of elderly nursing home residents with a history of multiple falls have severe, quantifiable abnormalities of both gait and balance. Using a simple quantitative test of balance (the Postural Stress Test), in conjunction with more comprehensive testing on a balance platform, as well as a quantitative gait analysis as predictors, we propose to perform a 4 year longitudinal study in 1,300 residents of health related facilities to determine our ability to predict the occurrence of falls in the future as well as describing the natural history of elderly fallers. In those individuals with a history of falls, we have already demonstrated: impaired power especially in the ankle dorsiflexors, diminished lower extremity tactile-vibratory and proprioception function and CT abnormalities (hypodensity) in the hemispheric white matter. Using a cohort of 120 fallers and controls from the longitudinal study, in a case control format, we will determine the physiologic substrates of falling. This will be accomplished by relating the above abnormalities of gait and balance to measures of sensory and motor dysfunction, and ultimately, to lesions and/or disease of the nervous system. The predictive tests of falling and description of the sensorimotor dysfunction underlying falls will be readily applicable to improving our therapeutic approach to falling.