Relevance of balance measurement tools and balance training for fall prevention in older adults (original) (raw)
Related papers
The contribution of postural balance analysis in older adult fallers: A narrative review
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2016
Objective. Falls are a serious health problem for older adults. Several studies have identified the decline of postural balance as one of the main risk factors for falls. Contrary to what may be believed, the capability of force platform measurements to predict falls remains uncertain. The focus of this narrative review is the identification of postural characteristics of older adults at risk of falling using both static and dynamic postural balance assessments. Methods. The literature analysis was conducted on Medline/PubMed. The search ended in May 2015. Results. Centre of pressure (CoP) path length, CoP velocity and sway in medial lateral and anterior-posterior are the variables that distinguish older adult fallers from non-fallers. Discussion. Recommendations to medical personnel on how to provide efficient balance training for older adults are offered, discussing the relevance and limitations of postural stability on static and dynamic board in falling risk prevention.
Evaluation of balance in fallers and non-fallers elderly
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 2012
Fal ls present a substantial health problem among the elderly population. Approximately one-third of community-dwelling people over 65 years of age will experience one or more each year. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate balance between fallers and non-fallers elderly. Study Design: Clinical study. Methods: We studied 30 subjects older than 65 years of age. 15 subjects had a history of falls within a year (Group I) and 15 subjects had no history of falls (Group II). The scores of Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP); Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Limits of Stability (LOS), Rhytmic Weight Shift (RWS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) findings gathered from the individuals from Group I and Group II, were compared. Results: The SOT 3, 6, composite, BBS scores and left-right on-axis velocity score of RWS test of the Group I were found to be significantly lower the Group II (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between the SOT 3, 5, composite and BBS scores of Group I and the SOT 4, 5, 6, composite and BBS scores of Group II is determined (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The CDP and BBS scores in fallers were found to be significiantly lower as compared to the non-fallers elderly.
Diagnostics, 2020
Falls are a major cause of injury and morbidity in older adults. To reduce the incidence of falls, a systematic assessment of the risk of falling is of paramount importance. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive comparison of the diagnostic balance tests used to predict falls and for distinguishing older adults with and without a history of falls. We conducted a systematic review of the studies in which instrumented (force plate body sway assessment) or other non-instrumented balance tests were used. We analyzed the data from 19 prospective and 48 retrospective/case-control studies. Among the non-instrumented tests, the single-leg stance test appears to be the most promising for discrimination between fallers and non-fallers. In terms of body sway measures, the center-of-pressure area was most consistently associated with falls. No evidence was found for increased benefit of the body sway test when cognitive tasks were added, or the vision was eliminat...
Balance performance in older adults and its relationship with falling
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2014
Background and aims A normal consequence of aging is a general deterioration in a number of musculoskeletal and sensory systems that affect postural control and balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate history of falls among active older individuals in Iran, and estimate the risk factors for falls among this population. Methods A total of 448 active older subjects from rural region of Rasht city, Iran, were included. They were divided into three groups depending on their age: youngold (n = 266); middle-old (n = 154) and oldest-old (n = 28). We assessed balance performance by One-Leg Balance (OLB), Functional Reach (FR), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Romberg tests. Results The fall rate ([2 in the last year) was 27.0 %. The cutoff point 13.75 s for TUG test showed 84.7 % sensitivity and 56 % specificity. Also the best cutoff point for OLB test was 12.7 s (63 % sensitivity and 83.5 % specificity). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI, diabetes, and failure in OLB, FR, and Romberg tests predicted fall risk. The decision tree classification of older individuals showed three categorical variables, which in their order of importance included diabetes, Romberg test, and OLB test. Conclusions This study revealed the value of history taking about diabetes as a predictor for existing falling. Decision tree technique showed that Romberg and OLB tests help in identifying older adults with balance problems. Given the incidence and consequences of falls among older adults, large-scale prospective studies on older individuals to identify those prone to falls are warranted.
Elderly individuals with increased risk of falls show postural balance impairment
Fisioterapia em Movimento, 2015
Introduction: Falls are a serious public health problem. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether elderly individuals with increased risk of falls have a postural balance deficit, evaluated using a force platform during a one-leg stance. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 94 physically independent elderly individuals from the EELO project. The instruments used were the Downton scale, in
The Effectiveness of Balance Exercise on Reducing Risk of Fall in Older People
2018
Background: The risk of fall in the elderly can be treated by improving the balance of the body and muscle strength of the lower extremities. Balance exercise includes plantar, hip and knee flexion, hip extension and side leg raise. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of balance exercise to reduce the risk of fall in older people. Methods: This study was conducted using queasy experimental design with one group pre-post-test. The total sample included in this study was 17 participant that selected using total sampling techniques based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using student t-test. Results: The study found a significant effect of balance exercise to reduce the risk of fall in older people (p=0.000). Mean different for risk of fall before and after the intervention was 42.53 and 50.06, respectively. Conclusions: Balance exercise can reduce the risk of fall among older people. This intervention can be applied by a nurse or social worker in a nursing home to prevent fall in older people.
Dynamic Parameters of Balance Which Correlate to Elderly Persons with a History of Falls
PLoS ONE, 2013
Poor balance in older persons contributes to a rise in fall risk and serious injury, yet no consensus has developed on which measures of postural sway can identify those at greatest risk of falling. Postural sway was measured in 161 elderly individuals (81.8y67.4), 24 of which had at least one self-reported fall in the prior six months, and compared to sway measured in 37 young adults (34.9y67.1). Center of pressure (COP) was measured during 4 minutes of quiet stance with eyes opened. In the elderly with fall history, all measures but one were worse than those taken from young adults (e.g., maximal COP velocity was 2.76 greater in fallers than young adults; p,0.05), while three measures of balance were significantly worse in fallers as compared to older persons with no recent fall history (COP Displacement, Short Term Diffusion Coefficient, and Critical Displacement). Variance of elderly subjects' COP measures from the young adult cohort were weighted to establish a balance score (''B-score'') algorithm designed to distinguish subjects with a fall history from those more sure on their feet. Relative to a young adult B-score of zero, elderly ''non-fallers'' had a B-score of 0.334, compared to 0.645 for those with a fall history (p,0.001). A weighted amalgam of postural sway elements may identify individuals at greatest risk of falling, allowing interventions to target those with greatest need of attention.
Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2011
To study the effectiveness of simply-performed balancing exercises in fall prevention. Design: Pre-and post-trial. Participants: Elderly with falls in the previous year. Intervention: Simple balancing exercise was performed at home every day and was recorded in the booklet. Measurements: New falling events and a battery of balancing abilities including the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), chair stand, functional reach, and Berg balance scale-short form were evaluated at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month periods. Fear of falling and quality of life scores were assessed at baseline and 12-month periods. Results: 146 subjects were recruited, 116 female (79.5%) with a mean age of 67.1 years. At the end of the study, 49% of participants had not fallen. All of the balancing abilities were compared between frequent and infrequent fallers and were significantly improved (P , 0.001) except for functional reach in the frequent fall group. Most subjects (72%-79%) complied well with the exercise program. However, compliance had no effect on balancing abilities. About 36.4% of participants had adverse events from exercise, of which knee pain was the top ranked. The quality of life and the fall efficacy scores increased significantly at the end of the study. Factors affecting falling were compliance with exercise (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.04, 6.30) and a history of falling $3 times in the previous year (adjusted OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.18, 11.98). Conclusion: Performing simply-designed balancing exercises, at least 3 days per week, can increase balancing abilities, and decrease fall rates in the elderly with a history of previous falls. However, strategies to encourage elderly compliance may prevent falling.
Comparison of two balance training programs on balance in community dwelling older adults
Geriatric Care, 2016
Impaired balance has been associated with an increased risk for falls and a resulting increase in the mortality rate of elder people. Thus, balance-training interventions have an important place in fall prevention. This study was designed with the purpose of identifying the appropriate balance-training program for community dwelling elderly adults with an active lifestyle. A sample of 70 elderly adults were randomly allocated into two groups: group 1 (n=35) received general balance and mobility exercise; group 2 (n=35) received specific balance strategy training. The intervention consisted of 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were <em>Timed up and go test</em> (TUGT) and <em>Berg balance scale</em> (BBS). An inter-group (2-way mixed model analysis of co-variance) and intra-group (repeated measures) analysis was done to find the change in balance scores. After the intervention, the TUGT scores in group 1 were, mean=10.38 s, standard deviation (...
Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development, 2019
The common problem of elderly physical changes is a postural balance which can increase the incidence of fall. Balance exercise is an exercise program to increase the postural balance of elderly. This study aims to analyze the effect of a balance exercise that increases elderly postural balance. This study was a quasi-experimental design. The samples were 28 respondents from Wana Seraya Denpasar Nursing home based on inclusion criteria and divided into treatment group and control group containing 14 respondents in each group. The variable was elderly postural balance with balance exercise as the intervention. The participants were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale. This study used the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Mann Whitney Test. The results showed that there was an increase in the postural balance in the treatment group (p=0.014), but, in the control group, there was no change (p = 1.00). There was a significant effect of balance exercise in increasing elderly postural balance with the value of p=0,001. A positive effect of the balancing exercise in the postural balance in institutionalized elderly subjects was found. This study recommends balance exercise for providing elderly postural balance that helps to decrease fall incidence among the elderly.