Introduction: Balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of the body above the base of support. To maintain equilibrium we use the information from the visual, vestibular and somatosensory system, a part of which are also the proprioception and superficial sensitivity. Elastic adhesive tapes can stimulate cutaneous mechanoreceptors and thus affect postural control through somatosensory system. Purpose: The determine whether elastic adhesive tapes applied to the m. tibialis anterior and m. gastrocnemius affect static balance of healthy younger and older individuals, and discover what are the differences in the effect of tapes between the younger and older groups. Methods: There were 15 older and 11 younger women participating. We performed measurements of the quiet stance with feet placed together on the pressure plate on a hard and soft surface with and without elastic adhesive tapes. The strips were placed on both legs with a 5% tension. In all four tests we measured an individual's medio-lateral and antero-posterior path, speed and area of movement of the center of pressure. The results were processed with a statistical program SPSS. Results: There are no differences between tests with and without elastic adhesive tapes on solid surface, neither in the younger nor the older group. The are no noticeable differences on solid surface when comparing groups. Although there are differences in maintaining balance on a soft surface. In the test on soft surface with eyes open and standing without elastic tapes, elderly's pressure center moved with an average speed of 3,61cm/s, 146,83 cm in medio-lateral path and 127,19 in antero-posterior. Younger group's pressure center moved with an average speed of 2,18 cm/s, 87,08 cm in medio-lateral path and 79,13 in antero-posterior. In the same test, but with elastic tapes, elderly's pressure center moved with an average speed of 3,51 cm/s, 145,63 cm in medio-lateral path and 121,32 in antero-posterior. Younger group's pressure center moved with an average speed of 2,3 cm/s, 93,03 cm in medio-lateral path and 82,37 in antero-posterior. We found statistically significant differences in the area of movement of the pressure center between groups only when standing on soft surface without tapes. The average of the elderly's area of movement is 17,73cm2, and the average of younger group's area is 10,25 cm2. Discussion and conclusion: The results have shown that elastic adhesive tapes do not influence the movement of the pressure center when standing with feet together. There are no differences in the effect of tapes between groups, but as expected we have found statistically significant differences in the maintenance of the quiet stance between the elderly and the younger group. Additional studies are necessary to explore the effect of elastic adhesive tapes under more demanding conditions and with a longer application period of the tapes. For example, to test a group of younger individuals with a single leg balance test and with a few days lasting application of the tape.
|
