DYNAMIC POSTURAL BALANCE IS MEDIATED BY ANTHROPOMETRY AND BODY COMPOSITION IN OLDER WOMEN

To investigate the relationship between anthropometry and body composition with dynamic postural balance in elderly women with low bone mineral density (BMD).

45 older women (≥ 60 years), low BMD and nutritional diagnosis of low weight to overweight. For the assessment of body composition, Dual energy X-ray emission densitometry and anthropometric examination were used to measure: body mass (kg), height (cm) and BMI (k/m²). The assessment of dynamic postural balance was performed by the mini Balance Master Evaluation System clinical test and the computerized Balance Master^® System test by the Sit to Stand and Step Up/Over tests.

There was a negative correlation between miniBESTest (r = - 0.566; p ≤ 0.001) and time to ascend and descend step (r = - 0.393; p ≤ 0.007) with fat mass, and positive correlation with miniBESTest (r = 0.526; p ≤0.001) and time to go up and down a step with muscle mass (r = 0.297; p ≤ 0.04). As for anthropometric variables, only height showed a positive correlation (r = 0.296; p ≤ 0.04) with the speed in the sit and stand test.

Lean mass reduces postural oscillations; in contrast, fat mass negatively interfered with dynamic postural balance in women with low BMD. Height was related to dynamic postural balance, the taller the elderly, the worse their balance.