Compensatory but not anticipatory adjustments are altered in older adults during lateral postural perturbations

Highlights • Anticipatory and compensatory adjustments represent the Central Nervous System’s (CNSs) ability to respond to postural disturbances, preventing loss of equilibrium and falls. • Lateral instability is a strong predictor of falls in older individuals; however, data on the modulation of these adjustments, and their relationship, in muscles that provide lateral postural stability is scarce. • Older adults used higher compensatory activity and similar anticipatory adjustments during lateral perturbations when compared to young individuals. Nevertheless, they showed greater postural instability after the postural disturbances.