Table 1 Postural control measures for three experimental conditions and age groups. Note that these values do not depict the transformed measures used for statistical analysis. M = mean, SD = standard deviation. ^a denotes significant (p < 0.05) difference when compared with young adults using unpaired t-tests. ^b denotes significant (p < 0.05) difference in children when compared with older adults using unpaired t-tests. Post-hoc analyses are Bonferroni corrected.

Stable stance

Planar path length (mm)

361.35^a,b

305.66^a

Ellipse area (mm²)

116.71^a

92.37^a

Short-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

11.55^a

9.70^a

Long-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

2.06^a

1.59^a

Critical time interval (s)

0.76^a

0.82^a

Critical mean squared displacement (mm²)

15.61^a

13.82^a

Eyes closed

Planar path length (mm)

540.80^a

602.10^a

Ellipse area (mm²)

208.98^a

202.86^a

Short-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

27.69^a

40.52^a

Long-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

2.94^a,b

1.70

Critical time interval (s)

0.82

0.96

Critical mean squared displacement (mm²)

42.21^a

62.42^a

Tandem stance

Planar path length (mm)

949.05^a,b

1284.85^a

Ellipse area (mm²)

368.99^a

449.43^a

Short-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

69.61^a,b

116.26^a

Long-term diffusion coefficient (mm² s⁻¹)

3.69^a

4.43^a

Critical time interval (s)

0.49^b

0.38

Critical mean squared displacement (mm²)

65.22^a

82.66^a