Preprint · Jan 22, 2026
Balance Control Vertebral Fracture Multiscale Entropy Analysis (Preprint)
By Kuo FC, Lung CW, Jan Y et al.
BACKGROUND Postural control relies on the musculoskeletal and sensorimotor systems to maintain balance during upright positions and movements. Maintaining balance is crucial for participation in physical activities for older adults. Aging, osteoporosis, and vertebral compression fractures (VCF) can affect standing kinematics and body movement. OBJECTIVE By examining postural stability (PS) and limit of stability (LOS) tasks through MSE, this study aims to provide new information on the impact of aging and VCF on balance and postural control. METHODS Visual feedback from the center of pressure (COP) can influence sway and joint coordination during quiet standing. VCF and healthy control participants were enrolled for postural stability (PS) and limit of stability (LOS) measurements in this study using the Biodex Balance System to assess participant’s balance with their COP. COP multiscale entropy (MSE) analysis was applied to evaluate how aging and VCF influence balance and postural control. RESULTS The elderly group showed significantly higher complexity index (CI) values for the COP compared to the young group (p<0.05) using the limit of stability testing, indicating age-related changes in balance control. The VCF group also had significantly (p<0.05) lower CI values in the lateral direction, suggesting that fractures would be one of the factors that further affect balance. CONCLUSIONS MSE balance traces analysis offers valuable insights into postural control in populations at risk for falls and lower extremity injuries.