[Continuing work after 64 years of age and postural balance.]

The objective of this study was to assess the components of postural balance among working and non-working men and women aged 65-69. A total of 120 people within the age range of 65-69 were screened. The first group included 30 female and 30 male patients who continued working beyond retirement. The second group comprised 30 women and 30 men who had ceased working by the time of the examination. For comprehensive assessment of postural balance components the computer complex of dynamic postrography «Smart Equitest Balance Manager» was used. Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Motor Control Test (MCT) were conducted. An analysis of SOT and MCT results showed that compared to non-workers aged 65-69, working men and women of the same age range demonstrated more effective maintenance of static and static-dynamic balance, increased postural control performance, including neuromuscular control of balance, as well as optimal balancing and centre of gravity control while maintaining static and static-dynamic balance. The reduced participation of somatosensory, visual and vestibular information in postural control and visual-motor coordination will negatively impact the ability of people over 64 to continue working.

[Characteristics of equilibrium function and the sensory organization of postural balance in women 85-95 years old.]

The purpose of this work is to establish the age-related indicators' characteristics of the effectiveness of the balance function and the postural balance sensory organization in women 85-95 years old. We examined 68 women aged 85-95 years [mean age (M±SD) 89,3±3 years]. The first age group included 37 women whose calendar age ranged from 85 to 89 years (mean age 86,9±1,6 years). The second age group included 31 women of 90-95 years (mean age: 92,1±1,4). To assess the components of the postural balance, a computer-based dynamic posturographic complex «Smart Equitest Balance Manager» was used. The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) was performed. Comparative assessment of the Equilibrium Score indicators in all SOT functional tests, including the Composite of all equilibrium scores, did not reveal statistically significant differences between the examined groups of women. The sensory analysis did not reveal age-related changes in somatosensory, visual and vestibular information in the control over balance, either. At the same time, the indicator of sensory preference (Ratio for sensory analysis-patient Preference) was higher in women 90-95 years old (p=0,007). In women after 89 years of age, there are no age-related changes in the sensory organization of postural control or the effectiveness of maintaining static and static-dynamic balance. No decrease in overall balance performance, as well as the adaptive capabilities of their balance function, was noticed. At the same time, long-lived women retain the effectiveness of the sensory integration process to maintain postural balance and a sense of spatial orientation, which can be considered a predictor of active longevity. In addition, centenarians retain the ability of spatial and temporal organization of postural equilibrium control, as well as the degree and order of the muscles involved to reduce the imbalance recruitment. The results obtained made it possible to designate SOT parameters that can be taken into account when predicting postural changes and life expectancy in women in old age.

[Characteristics of the coordinated motor response and voluntary shift of the center of gravity in women aged 85-95.]

The objective of this study was to identify the age-related peculiarities of the coordinated motor response and voluntary shift of the center of gravity (COG) in females aged 85-95. A total of 68 women within the age range of 85-95 were screened, mean age (М±SD) - 89,3±3. The first group comprised 37 women between the chronological ages of 85 and 89 (mean age: 86,9±1,6). The second group included 31 women aged 90-95 (mean age: 92,1±1,4). To achieve the stated objective the computer dynamic posturographic complex Smart Equitest Balance Manager (USA) was used. The following tests were conducted: Motor Control Test (MCT), Rhythmic Weight Shift Test (RWS). The tests revealed a decreasing Composite of all Latencies (p=0,009) in the majority of the surveyed women aged 90-95. However, a comparative analysis of the RWS test results showed no statistically significant differences between the age groups. Cause and effect relationships between the RWS test results and subjective perception of aging were established. Women aged 90-95 demonstrated no decrease in the speed of the voluntary shift and effective control of COG in frontal and sagittal planes, whereas the latency of their coordinated motor response was marked by reliably low numbers compared to women aged 85-89. Thus, women after 89 experience no age-related alterations in sensorimotor integration, which could be regarded as a predictor of longevity. The results obtained made it possible to outline the MCT and RWS parameters which can be taken into consideration in forecasting postural alterations and life expectancy for older women.

[Characteristics of the quality of life in women 55-64 years old living in the urban conditions.]

The article presents the results of the study of the quality of life (QOL) characteristics in the urban women 55-64 years old using the SF-36v2 questionnaire, the estimation of the standardized quantities of QOL is given. A total of 509 women were examined and divided into two age groups: the 1st group is 55-59 years old (n=210), the 2nd group is 60-64 years old (n=299). It is established that the women older than 59 years have a decline in the indicators of the physical functioning (p<0,001), the role functioning conditioned by a physical state (p=0,001), as well as the intensity of pain (p=0,011), which will negatively affect their activity in everyday life, their productive activities, making it difficult to continue working on pension. The analysis of the physical component of the QOL also revealed its decrease in women older than 59 years (p<0,001). At the same time, statistically significant age differences in the psychological component of the QOL (p>0,1) were not established. The results of the research show that the determining factor that has a positive effect on the process of successful aging in women of the second age group is not the physical but the psychological component of the quality of life.

[Postural control characteristics in elderly women with fallers]

Using computer posturografic (stabilometric) complex a study of postural control peculiarities was carried out in 108 women aged 65-74 years who had experienced two or more falls during the year (fallers). These tests were: Sensory Organization Test, Motor Control Test, Rhythmic Weight Shift. It was found that elderly women with fallers had a decrease of sensory information (somatosensory - by 1,8 %, of the visual - by 6 %, and of the vestibular - by 10,1 %), the neurophysiological mechanisms of postural control (by 5,7 points), violation of adaptation possibilities of sensory and motor components of the legs to respond quickly to changes in the center of gravity within the support base of its footing (7,3 ms), as well as reducing balance control in the frontal (by 7,2 %) and sagittal (by 23,2 % ) planes compared with the women of the same age without fallers.