Multimodal Factors Affect Longitudinal Changes in Dynamic Balance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomechanics
• Public Health

Background:

• Dynamic balance is crucial for preventing falls in older adults.
• Fall risk appraisal (FRA) assesses an individual's awareness of their fall risk.
• Multimodal factors influence dynamic balance and fall risk in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how fear of falling (FoF), static balance, fall history, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) predict changes in dynamic balance.
• To analyze the interplay of these factors in community-dwelling, low-income older adults over six months.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 140 older adults (124 women, 16 men).
• Assessed FoF (Short FES-I), static balance (BBT), MVPA (accelerometers), fall history (self-report), and dynamic balance (Timed Up and Go test - TUG).
• Data collected at four time points over six months using mixed-effects multilevel models.

Main Results:

• Dynamic balance (TUG scores) fluctuated over time, predicted by %MVPA and FRA distance ratio.
• FRA distance ratio's effect was mainly driven by FoF.
• %MVPA's effect varied by age; fall history predicted FRA distance but not TUG scores directly.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic balance is influenced by MVPA and FRA, reflecting the interaction between static balance and FoF.
• Fall history indirectly affects dynamic balance through its impact on FRA.
• Findings highlight the predictive role of physical activity and FRA in dynamic balance changes, informing low-cost intervention development.