The influence of wearable garments on postural regulation and joint position sense action in elderly individuals

Abstract

Studies have shown that age-related deterioration of biological systems in elderly populations could contribute to postural instability and falls. This study examined effects of wearing knee length socks (KLS) on postural regulation in community-dwelling older adults. In study I, 49 studies were included for qualitative synthesis and 28 studies for quantitative synthesis. For the cross-sectional study (Study II), 385 older adults aged 65 years old and above, were randomly recruited from the local community. Participants of study III (N = 46) & IV (N = 48) were randomly selected from the participants’ pool from study II. A repeated-measures design was used to determine effects of three different intervention treatments – wearing clinical compression socks (mmHg 2030); wearing non-clinical compression socks (mmHg < 15); wearing commercial socks, and barefoot (Control) on double-limb standing balancing and ankle joint position awareness tasks. The review of published literature showed that somatosensory stimulation through textured insoles (SMD = 0.30) and an application of stochastic resonance (SMD = 0.31) benefit standing balance tasks in older adults. Nevertheless, adverse effects were observed while wearing the wearable garment (SMD = -0.68) in older adults. Result revealed that an increased risk of falling was observed in older adults with subtle cognitive impairment and Berg Balance Scores 40 and below. Wearing compression knee length socks (KLS) significantly reduced the centre of pressure sway parameters (p < 0.05) as compared to barefoot condition while performing double-limb standing balance task on a foam surface with vision. Furthermore, both clinical compression and non-compression KLS (p < 0.05) were found beneficial on overall joint position sense performance. In conclusion, the study supports the use of knee length socks of various compression levels enhance postural regulation in older adults. Therefore, KLS could be used as an affordable intervention to reform adverse effects of aging on the somatosensory system.