Context:
Balance evaluation and training are typically included in rehabilitation after sport injuries.
Objective:
To evaluate and compare the maximal velocities and accelerations of balancing movements during 2-leg stance with eyes open and closed. The effect of age on the measured values was also evaluated.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Participants:
100 healthy, randomly selected subjects (50 men, 50 women; age 31–80 years).
Setting:
Body-movement values were measured with the Mac Reflex motion-analysis system.
Intervention:
Subjects stood barefoot.
Main Outcome Measures:
ANOVAs were used to explain the body movements. The location of measurement, presence or absence of vision, and subjects’ age and gender were used as explanatory variables.
Results:
With eyes closed, all measured body parts had significantly higher maximal velocity and acceleration values than with eyes open. Age seemed to affect the acceleration values.
Conclusion:
Visual information was found to significantly influence movement values. Exercises should be done under various conditions to improve standing balance abilities.
