Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the aging change of center of pressure (COP) reverse response and its relationship with the strength of the lower limb muscles involved in backward stepping. On the basis of the reverse response phenomenon (RRP) of the COP displacement in backward stepping, an RRP-based index was defined, which was compared among different age groups. From the results of this analysis, it was observed that the elderly group significantly shows high value at RRP distance as compared with a young group, and the elderly group showed a significant correlation among the RRP distance, time, and the COP displacement distance toward the supporting leg. Its confirmed in the elderly group to tend to increase the RRP distance that was a mechanical factor of the COM transfer in backward stepping. Furthermore, the results of this study suggested the existence of an association between the step time and the knee extension muscular strength.
