Comparison by Gender and Age and Their Mutual Relations with Center of Pressure Variables

Hiroki Aoki^1, , Shinichi Demura², Shunsuke Yamaji³, Yoshinori Nagasawa⁴ and Toshiro Sato⁵

¹National Institute of Technology, Fukui College, General course, Fukui, Japan

²Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan

³University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan

⁴Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan

⁵Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan

Cite this paper:
Hiroki Aoki, Shinichi Demura, Shunsuke Yamaji, Yoshinori Nagasawa and Toshiro Sato. Comparison by Gender and Age and Their Mutual Relations with Center of Pressure Variables. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2025; 13(2):24-29. doi: 10.12691/ajssm-13-2-1

Abstract

Individuals have unique sway characteristics, and to clarify interindividual variations, we must determine time points at which age and gender differences emerge. Therefore, this study aimed to compare center of pressure (COP) sway variables by gender and age and to examine relationships between mean positions and other sway variables. The study included 1362 participants, including healthy males (604) and females (758) aged 20–60 years. COP sway was measured once for 1 min. As COP sway variables, the mean positions X and Y, the mean position vector R, the rectangular area, and the standard deviations X and Y were selected. R goes from the two-dimensional coordinate start point to the intersection of mean positions X and Y. Mean position X showed no large gender or age differences (partial η2 < 0.010). In males, mean position Y was larger in the 20s, 50s, and 60s. Age difference was mainly observed in females, with the 50s and 60s tending to be larger than the 30s and 40s. The R tended to be similar to mean position Y. The unit time trajectory length, rectangular area, and standard deviations (SD) X and Y were all larger in males; in females, the degree of difference tended to be larger except for the SD Y(effect size (ES): 0.42–0.86). In any variable as a whole, the age difference was not large (partial η2 < 0.048) but larger in the 60s than in the 20s and 30s (ES: 0.24–0.60). Correlation between mean positions X and Y was low, and both mean positions had low correlation with other sway variables. Correlation between the rectangle area and both standard deviations or between the rectangle area and the unit time trajectory length was high. The R had moderate correlation with mean position Y, but low correlation with mean position X. In conclusion, mean position X revealed no large gender or age differences. Mean positions Y and R were larger in males than in females, and age differences were found mainly in females. Mean position Y greatly affected R. Mean position X had a low relationship with mean positions Y and R, but the latter’s relationship was relatively high. Both mean position variables had weak relationships with other sway variables. Mean position Y had gender and age differences similar to those of other sway variables, but mean position X did not.

Keywords:
mean position elderly position vector

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Russo L, D'Eramo U, Padulo J, Foti C, Schiffer R,Scoppa F.(2015). Day-time effect on postural stability in young sportsmen. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 5, 38-42.
[2]	Kitabayashi T, Demura S, Noda M. (2003). Examination of the factor structure of center of Foot pressure movement and cross-validity. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci, 22, 265-272.
[3]	Demura S, Kitabayashi T, Noda M, Yamada T, Imaoka K. (2005). Study of individual sway patterns based on Four body sway factors. Equilibrium Research, 64,143-150.
[4]	Matsuda S，Demura S, Demura T.(2010). Examining differences between center of pressure sway in one-legged and two-legged stances for soccer players and typical adults. Percept Mot Skills, 110, 751-760.
[5]	Kitabayashi T，Demura S, Aoki H.(2018). Examination of effective body sway parameters for healthy elderly. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 6:50-55.
[6]	Fujiwara K, Ikegami H. (1981). A Study on the Relationship between the Position of the Center of Foot Pressure and the Steadiness of Standing Posture. Japan Journal of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, 26: 137-147.
[7]	Demura S, Yamaji S, Noda M, Kitabayashi T, Nagasawa Y.(2001). Examination of parameters evaluating the center of foot pressure in static standing posture from the viewpoints of trial-to-trial reliability and interrelationships among parameters. Equilibrium Research, 60, 44-55.
[8]	Kitabayashi T, Demura S, Noda M, Imaoka K. (2003). Interrelationships between various parameters to evaluate body sway from the center of foot pressure in a static upright posture-examined by domain and gender difference-. Equilibrium Research, 62, 34-42.
[9]	Tokita T. (1995). Stabilometry - with Reference to Focal Diagnosis in Patients with Equilibrium Disturbances. Equilibrium Research, 52:172-179.
[10]	Mori M, Tokita T, Okawa T, Shibata Y, Miyata H. (1998). Postural Sway in Patients with Parkinson Disease-Sway Pattern on Statokinesigram-. Equilibrium Research, 57, 271-279.
[11]	Masani K，Vette AH，Kouzaki M，Kanehisa H，Fukunaga T, Popovic MR.(2007). Larger center of pressure minus center of gravity in the elderly induces larger body acceleration during quiet standing，Neurosci Lett, 422, 202-206．
[12]	Usuda S, Yamahata R, Endo F.(1999). The Relationship of Balance to Muscle Strength and Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Elderly Women. Rigakuryoho Kagaku, 14, 33-36.
[13]	Takai I, Miyano M, Nakai T, Yamaguchi T, Yoshimura T, Shirai H, Murakami M, Inoue K, Tsuzaki R, Shutou H. (2001). Postural change and posture control with aging. Japanese Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 6, 11-16.
[14]	Yamanaka T. (2022). Clinical posturography/stabilometry. Equilibrium Research, 81:1-15.
[15]	Kido K, Ikeda M. (2022). Treatment of Effect Size When Conducting Significance Tests in the Field of Educational Technology. Japan Journal of Educational Technology, 46, 579-587.
[16]	Ogaya S, Ikezoe T, Tsuboyama T, Ichihashi N. (2009). Postural Control on a Wobble Board and Stable Surface of Young and Elderly People. Rigakuryoho Kagaku, 24, 81-85.
[17]	Kitabayashi T, Demura S, Yamaji S, Nakada M, Noda M, Imaoka K. (2002). Gender differences and relationships between physical parameters on evaluating the center of foot pressure in static standing posture. Equilibrium Research, 61, 16-27．
[18]	Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Ćwirlej-Sozańska A, Wołoszyn N, Sozański B, Wilmowska-Pietruszyńska A. (2019). Association between handgrip strength, mobility, leg strength, flexibility, and postural balance in older adults under long-term care facilities. BioMed Research International, Article ID 1042834.
[19]	Mano Y.(1999) Falls of the elderly and their countermeasures. Ishiyaku Publication, 13.
[20]	Aoki H, Demura S, Yamaji S, Nagasawa Y, Nakatani T, Nadamoto M. (2023). Sex and age-level differences of center of pressure sway variables and their inter-relations during static standing posture in healthy people. The Journal of Education and Health Science, 66, 247-257.
[21]	Demura S, Kitabayashi T, Aoki H. (2008). Body-sway characteristics during a static upright posture in the elderly. Geriatr Gerontol, 8: 188-197.
[22]	Goldie P A, Bach T M, Evans O M. (1989). Force platform measures for evaluating postural control: reliability and validity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 70: 510-517.
[23]	Murata J, Murata S, Kai Y. (2007). Relationship between the Lower Limb Loading Force and Leg Muscle Activities. Rigakuryoho Kagaku, 22, 195-198.
[24]	Maly T, Ford KR, Sugimoto D, Izovska J, Bujnovsky D, Hank M, Cabell L, Zahalka F.(2021). Isokinetic Strength, Bilateral and Unilateral Strength Differences: Variation by Age and Laterality in Elite Youth Football Players. Int. J. Morphol., 39, 260-267.