ABSTRACT
Equilibrium and balance can deteriorate with age, yet there are few reports examining this phenomenon within the military community. The Army Research Laboratory-Army Medical Department Field Element conducted research to examine balance differences between a younger (≤38 yrs, n=14) and an older (≥39 yrs, n=14) group of Soldiers using the Sharpened Romberg Test (SRT). Participants performed the SRT with eyes open and eyes closed while standing on the Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc. (AMTI) OR6-7 Biomechanics Force Platform. Average Radial Displacement (ARD), ARD-Standard Deviation (ARD-SD), and Path Length (PL) were computed over 22 seconds. Independent t-tests results indicated younger Soldiers had less sway (p < .05) than older Soldiers in two of three balance parameters: ARD—eyes open (t(26) = -2.2, p=.033) and Path Length—eyes open (t(26) = -2.30, p=.037).
