There is need for a functional ability test that appropriately assesses the rapid integration of the sensory and motor systems required for older adults to recover from a slip. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and reliability of a novel test, the reactive leg drop, for assessing sensory-motor function in older adults. Fourteen young (YW; mean age = 20 yr) and 11 older women (OW; mean age = 76 yr) participated in this study. For each drop, the leg was passively moved to full extension and then released. The subjects had to recognize their leg was free-falling and reactively kick up as quickly as possible during varying sensory conditions. To assess the leg drop's reliance on proprioception, other proprioceptive tests (e.g., patellar tendon reflexes and balance) were separately performed. Leg drops performed with the eyes closed ( P = 0.011) and with a blocked view of the leg ( P = 0.033) showed significant differences in drop angle between YW and OW. Significant relationships between leg drop conditions and balance were observed in OW that were not present within YW. When collapsed across groups, reflex latency was correlated with drop angle when the eyes were closed. The reactive leg drop was age sensitive, reliable, and likely reliant on proprioception, as shown by relationships to other sensory-motor assessments, such as balance and the patellar reflex. Although more research is needed, we propose that the reactive leg drop is an effective tool to assess sensory-motor integration in a manner that may mimic fall recovery. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The reactive leg drop was age sensitive and was significantly related to other sensory-motor assessments. The ability to accurately assess sensory-motor integration may aid clinicians, practitioners, and researchers in developing new interventions. The reactive leg drop presented in the current study is a potentially effective tool to assess sensory and motor integration in a manner that may mimic fall recovery.
Keywords: balance; proprioception; reaction time; sensorimotor; stretch reflex.