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Published on: December 11, 2013
Relations between postural stability, gait and falls in elderly persons--preliminary report.
Dawid Baczkowicz1, Jan Szczegielniak, Małgorzata Proszkowiec
1Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole Polytechnical University, Opole, Poland. d.baczkiewicz@po.opole.pl
Ortopedia, Traumatologia, Rehabilitacja
|December 2, 2008
Summary
Assessing balance in elderly individuals using force platforms and the Berg test shows links to body sway and fall risk. However, functional status and Berg test scores alone did not predict falls.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Neurology
Background:
- Balance control is crucial for elderly individuals.
- Center of pressure (COP) shifts can identify fall-prone individuals.
- Investigating the relationship between functional status, gait, posture, and fall risk is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relationship between functional status, gait, posture stability, and the risk of falling in elderly patients.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of force platform measurements and the Berg test in assessing balance control.
Main Methods:
- 20 elderly patients (mean age 78.1±11.6) participated.
- Functional status assessed using the Barthel Index.
- Postural stability measured with a force platform (eyes open/closed) and the Berg test.
- Gait evaluated using the six-minute walking test.
Main Results:
- Force platform parameters correlated significantly with Berg test scores (r=-0.60 to -0.58, p<0.001).
- Significant correlations were found between eyes-open (EO) measurements, gait parameters, and functional status (r=-0.63 to -0.68, p<0.001).
- The number of falls showed a significant relation only to the EO test (r=0.4, p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Force platform and Berg test evaluations of balance control yielded convergent results.
- Increased body sway was associated with a higher incidence of falls.
- Functional status and Berg test scores alone did not predict fall risk.
- Postural stability, functional status, and gait were interrelated.
