Changes in gait and postural control after 10-day bed rest and 30-day recoveryŠlosar, Luka (Avtor) Peskar, Manca (Avtor) Šimunič, Boštjan (Avtor) Pišot, Rado (Avtor) Narici, Marco Vincenzo (Avtor) Marušič, Uroš (Avtor) agingphysical inactivitymobile body imagingfunctional declineBackground Prolonged bed rest is a well-established model for studying the effects of immobility on functional performance, especially gait and postural control. Understanding how these functions deteriorate and recover across age groups is essential for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies. Research question How does a 10-day horizontal bed rest affect gait performance and postural control in young and older adults, and to what extent do these effects differ by age? Methods Following a multistage screening process from a large pool of healthy male volunteers, ten older men (68.5 ± 2.6 years) and ten young men (22.9 ± 4.7 years) completed 10 days of horizontal bed rest in a controlled laboratory setting, followed by a standardized 30-day recovery program. Postural control and gait speed assessed under self-selected and brisk walking conditions were measured before bed rest, immediately after, and following a 30-day recovery program. Results Following bed rest, self-selected walking speed did not differ significantly from baseline in either group. In contrast, brisk walking speed significantly decreased in older (−11.4%, p < 0.05) and young adults (−9.9%, p < 0.05), with both groups returning to baseline values after recovery. Postural control deteriorated significantly in older adults (-15.5%), whereas no significant difference from baseline was observed in young adults. After baseline adjustment, postural control showed a significant group effect both after bed rest (η² > 0.244) and post-recovery (η² > 0.395). Significance The findings reveal clear age-related differences in responses to inactivity and recovery. Older adults experienced greater impairments and slower restoration of balance, indicating heightened vulnerability to functional decline during periods of immobilization. These findings underscore the age-dependent impact of bed rest and the importance of tailored rehabilitation strategies.20262026-04-24 14:01:03Neznano29211sl© 2026 Published by Elsevier B.V. Članek naložen v repoztorij v skladu s šestim in sedmim odstavkom 41. člena ZZrID, s katerima je Slovenija uzakonila pravico do sekundarnega publiciranja kot zakonsko podlago za omogočanje odprtega dostopa do in ponovne uporabe javno financiranih znanstvenih objav in raziskovalnih podatkov.