Immediate changes in dynamic postural control following challenging forward-reach tasks with a ceiling-mounted fall impact mitigation robot in healthy older adults: a pilot study

Abstract Introduction Dynamic postural control is a key determinant of balance and an essential factor in fall prevention, with center of pressure (COP) adjustments reflecting the motor mechanisms that ensure balance during forward-reach tasks. A ceiling-mounted fall impact mitigation robot has been introduced for balance-challenging tasks, including the Functional Reach Test (FRT); however, its effect on postural control in older adults remains unclear. Objective To investigate whether a ceiling-mounted fall impact mitigation robot supports changes in dynamic postural control during a challenging forward-reach task in healthy older adults. Methods Fifteen older adults (73.0 ± 7.4 years) were randomly assigned to experimental ( n = 8) or control ( n = 7) groups. All participants completed a pre-test FRT, followed by progressively challenging reaches starting at 98% of the individual maximum (+ 2% per successful reach) until failure, followed by a post-test FRT; the experimental group performed the post-test FRT with and without the robot, whereas the control group performed the post-test FRT without the robot. The COP in the anteroposterior direction was recorded from dual force plates. The primary and secondary outcomes were the anterior COP excursion and FRT distance, respectively. Results In the experimental group, COP excursion significantly increased after the challenging tasks ( p = 0.021), with a significant increase in the COP excursion between the pre-test and post-test FRT in the robotic condition ( p = 0.046). Conclusion The ceiling-mounted fall impact mitigation robot immediately increased the anterior COP excursion during a challenging forward-reach task, thus supporting changes in dynamic postural control in healthy older adults.