DOES MENTAL ESTIMATION OF FORWARD REACH DISTANCE REFLECT FORWARD REACH ABILITY IN ELDERLY?

Abstract

Background: Cognitive planning is one of the essential component to estimate distance to perform a functional task without losing balance. Anticipatory reach is the ability of an individual to estimate their reach distance while planning to perform the task. Such planning is likely to decline with aging predisposing to falls. The relationship between anticipatory reach and actual reach is not evident from the literature. Aim: To study the relation between anticipated reach distance and actual reach performed in eyes open and closed condition among young and elderly. Methodology: Younger and elderly population were recruited as participants who were asked to estimate their forward reach as a number from inch tape mounted horizontally on the wall. The participants were asked to perform forward reach with eyes open and eyes closed. Three trials were performed. The maximum distance of the three trials were used for the data analysis. Result: Statistically significant difference was found between anticipatory reach and reaching with eyes open and between reaching with eyes open and eyes closed in elderly population, and no difference among the values found in younger participants. Conclusion: Anticipatory reach distance was greater than actual reaching with eyes open in elderly population wherein minimal differences was found in younger population. Reaching distance tends to be decreased in eyes closed than eyes open in elderly population than younger population. Elderly population must be educated about their overestimation of anticipatory reach and to plan appropriate strategies to prevent falls.