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Discrepancies between balance confidence and physical performance among community-dwelling Korean elders: a
Young-Mi Ko1, Won-Beom Park, Jae-Young Lim
1School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.
International Psychogeriatrics
|May 1, 2009
Summary
Elderly women in Korea report lower balance confidence than men, linked to pain, not cognitive factors. Addressing pain and confidence is key for elder health and preventing disability.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomedical Geriatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigates the gap between perceived and actual balance in Korean elders.
- Examines how sex and age influence this discrepancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors contributing to the imbalance between balance confidence and physical performance in older Koreans.
- To explore sex and age-specific differences in balance confidence and its determinants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA).
- Assessed 1000 adults aged 65+ on balance confidence (ABC), physical performance (POMA), disability (ADL/IADL), pain, depression, and cognitive function.
- Analyzed relationships between balance confidence, physical performance, and demographic factors by sex and age.
Main Results:
- Elderly women exhibited lower balance confidence than men, despite similar physical performance under age 80.
- Functional disability in women was linked to lower extremity pain and correlated with balance confidence.
- Psychological factors like depression and cognitive function did not significantly influence balance confidence.
Conclusions:
- A notable discrepancy exists between balance confidence and physical performance in Korean elders, varying by sex and age.
- Low balance confidence in older women is associated with pain-related issues beyond objective balance measures.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing confidence and managing pain to prevent disability and promote health in the elderly population.
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