The Role of Knee Extensor Strength in Balance-Restoring Step Initiation and Execution

A stepping response is often used to restore balance following a fall. Using laboratory-induced balance perturbations, various researchers have reported age-related alterations in balance recovery step characteristics including earlier step liftoff time [1; 2], shorter step length [1; 3], and longer step duration [2]. Such age-related changes in the step response may be related to older adults’ reduced strength reserve, which is prominent in the lower extremities [4] and therefore likely plays an important role in balance recovery.