Objective
To evaluate the effects of age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, smoking and alcohol on postural sway (PS) and limb load asymmetry (LLA) in the rural inhabitants in Korea Method: Nine hundred and sixty inhabitants were included in this study. PS and LLA were recorded while the subjects were standing on two adjacent force platforms (MedianceⰒ; Human-Tech Inc, Korea) in a comfortable stance for 30 seconds. Bone mineral density was measured in the right calcaneus by ultrasonography (SaharaⰒ; Hologic Inc, USA). History of diabetes and smoking were taken through interview. Results: PS and LLA were correlated with age (p＜0.01). There were significant decreases in PS and LLA in the young age-group (p＜0.01). There was no significant difference in PS and LLA in terms of sex, osteoporosis, height, weight, BMI and smoking. There was a significant difference in LLA (p＜0.05) but no difference in PS between diabetic and normal groups. Conclusion: PS and LLA may be related with ageing. Diabetic group may have higher LLA than normal group. However, sex, osteoporosis, height, weight, BMI, and smoking may not affect on PS and LLA. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2006; 30: 502-507)
