加齢による下肢感覚機能の変化と立位姿勢制御に対する影響

概要

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Balance impairment is a higher incidence in the risk factors of fall-related age. The somatosensory function declines with aging, causing anatomical and physiological changes that occur in muscle spindle, synovial membrane, ligament, cutaneous receptors and the corresponding afferent fibers in the lower exremities. These changes affect age-related decrements of proprioception and joint position sense. Standing postural control is required to immediately generate the postural reflex that composes feedback activities of peripheral nerve and central nervous system. Moreover, the present basic science and clinical researchs suggested that the group I and II afferent fibers activities could mainly contribute to reflexive response to static and dynamic standing posture. This article is to review the evidence regarding age-related histological and physiological changes of peripheral receptors and the afferent fibers, to discuss the relationship between age-related functional declination of these receptors and joint position sense, to reexamine the evidence regarding age-related decrements of joint position sense and postural instability, and to review whether peripheral nerve impairment occurs distal to proximal in the lower extremities, and whether balance impairments are related to age-related somatosensory changes.
2010-03-30