Age-Related Balance Among Soldiers

Postural degradation can begin as early as age forty men and women, but little information is available regarding postural stability among the ‘younger-old’ working population. The purpose of this research was to examine younger (≤ 38 yrs, n=14) and older (≥ 39 yrs, n=14) Soldiers’ balance using a biomechanical orthogonal balance platform. Twenty-Eight active duty Soldiers between the ages of 28-56 years (mean = 40.62, median = 38.8) participated. Soldiers assumed a tandem stance for 22 seconds, with their dominate foot forward for two trials, first with eyes open, then with eyes closed. T-test results (p < .05) indicate significant Center of Pressure displacement differences in Average Displacement Y axis (ADY- fore and aft) with eyes open (t(26) = -2.46, p=.021) and Average Velocity eyes open (t(26) = -2.30, p=.030), but not for Average Displacement X axis (ADX – medial-lateral) (t(26) = -1.62, p=.117) eyes open, (t(26) = -.463, p= .647) eyes closed. These findings may provide relevant information to military leaders responsible for physical training and combat initiatives that involve balance efficacy, and to build a case for the need to develop normative balance data based on age.