Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
06:28
Author Spotlight: Developing Low-Tech Balance Assessment Methods for Broad-Spectrum Healthcare Applications
Published on: September 1, 2023
6.1K
Does patient environment have any influence on balance?
Virginia Franco-Gutiérrez1, Marcos Rossi-Izquierdo2, Raul Franco-Gutiérrez3
1Otorhinolaryngology Department, Carmen y Severo Ochoa Hospital, Sienra 11, 33819, Cangas del Narcea, Asturias, Spain. virginia.franco@sespa.es.
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|July 11, 2019
Summary
Elderly individuals at risk of falls living in rural settings demonstrate improved balance. Patient environment significantly influences static and dynamic balance assessments.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Patient environment is a crucial, yet understudied, factor in vestibular rehabilitation.
- Limited research correlates environmental settings with balance assessment outcomes in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in objective balance evaluations for elderly fall-risk patients.
- To compare balance outcomes based on living environment (urban vs. rural) and lifestyle factors.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 139 elderly fall-risk patients.
- Objective measures: Computer Dynamic Posturography (CDP) and modified Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test.
- Subjective measures: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (short FES-I).
Main Results:
- Rural elderly patients exhibited superior composite scores on the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) during CDP.
- Rural participants showed better performance in Condition 6 and fewer falls during CDP.
- Rural individuals required fewer steps to complete the TUG test, indicating better dynamic balance.
Conclusions:
- Patient environment demonstrably influences objective balance assessments in the elderly.
- Environmental context should be integrated into the analysis of static and dynamic balance tests.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering geographical and lifestyle factors in fall-risk evaluations.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Balancing Redox Equations
61.7K
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
61.7K
01:19Energy Balance
1.2K
The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
1.2K
01:15Equilibrium and Balance
6.4K
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
6.4K
01:29Disorder of Water Balance
2.4K
Water balance disorders are medical conditions that occur when there is a deviation from the body's water volume or osmolarity, disrupting normal homeostasis and leading todehydration, hypotonic hydration, hyperhydration, edema, or water intoxication.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
2.4K
01:25Acid-Base Balance
2.3K
The human body maintains a narrow pH range regulated through acid-base balance. This balance is crucial as changes in the hydrogen ion concentration can disrupt cell membrane stability, alter protein structures, and change enzyme activities. The normal pH of arterial blood is 7.4, venous blood and interstitial fluid is 7.35, and intracellular fluid averages 7.0.
When the pH of arterial blood rises above 7.45, it results in a condition called alkalosis. Conversely, a drop below 7.35 leads to...
When the pH of arterial blood rises above 7.45, it results in a condition called alkalosis. Conversely, a drop below 7.35 leads to...
2.3K
01:18Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
1.7K
Respiratory compensation is a vital physiological process that stabilizes blood plasma pH by regulating the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), a key determinant of pH levels. Most carbon dioxide in the blood dissolves and converts into carbonic acid (H2CO3). It dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3⁻). There is also an inverse relationship between PCO2 and pH.
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
1.7K