Changes in postural balance associated with a woman's aging process

Abstract Context Aging causes a progressive worsening in postural balance, affecting functional independence and increasing the risk of falls. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aging on the static balance in women from 50-years to 89-years of age. Design This was a cross-sectional study, with 400 irregularly active women were evaluated and grouped by age: Group 6thdecade (age 50 to 59) ‒ 58 participants; Group 7thdecade (age 60 to 69) ‒ 214 participants; Group 8thdecade (age 70 to 79) ‒ 92 participants; Group 9thdecade (age 80 to 89) ‒ 36 participants. Postural balance was evaluated using a portable force platform in a standard standing position, with Eyes Open (EO) and Eyes Closed (EC). Results In the two measurement conditions, the elderly women in Group 9thdecade presented mediolateral displacement and range, and mean velocity greater than the women's values in Groups 6thand 7thdecade. In the EO e EC situation, the displacement was higher in the elderly Group 9thdecade compared to younger groups. Group 8thhas a mean velocity greater than Group 6thdecade in the EO situation. Conclusions Posturography showed a decline in postural balance with advancing age, suggesting that the 9thdecade of life is a borderline age to this detriment due to an increase in postural instability.

Posturographic measures did not improve the predictive power to identify recurrent falls in community-dwelling elderly fallers

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if posturography can be considered a recurrent fall predictor in elderly individuals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 124 subjects aged 60 to 88 years were evaluated and divided into two groups—the recurrent fallers (89) and single fallers (35) groups. Patients' sociodemographic characteristics were assessed, and clinical testing was performed. The functional test assessment instruments used were timed up and go test (TUGT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), five times sit-to-stand test, and Falls Efficacy Scale (to measure fear of falling). Static posturography was performed in a force platform in the following three different situations—eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and EO dual task. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the single and recurrent fallers groups regarding the fear of falling, the Geriatric Depression Scale score, the mean speed calculated from the total displacement of the center point of pressure (COP) in all directions with EO, and the root mean square of the displacement from the COP in the mediolateral axis with EC. Based on the hierarchical logistic regression model, none of the studied posturographic variables was capable of significantly increasing the power of differentiation between the recurrent and single fallers groups. Only TUGT with a cognitive distractor (p<0.05) and the BBS (p<0.01) presented with significant independent predictive power. CONCLUSION: TUGT with a cognitive distractor and the BBS were considered recurrent fall predictors in elderly fallers.

Uso clínico da posturografia estática na avaliação de idosos caidores da comunidade / Clinical use of posturography to assess community-dwelling elderly fallers

Introdução: Recorrência de quedas está presente em 50% dos casos de idosos caidores, fato que sinaliza piores desfechos na saúde dessa população. Daí a relevância dos fatores associados aos eventos recorrentes: se bem entendidos, eles podem conferir maior objetividade às avaliações de riscos e, consequentemente, produzir uma melhor correspondência entre as intervenções propostas e as reais necessidades dessa população. Objetivo: Investigar se a posturografia - uma das propostas de avaliação de risco de quedas -- adiciona à avaliação clínica a capacidade de discriminar a recorrência de quedas em idosos. Método: Estudo transversal, realizado no período de agosto de 2011 a novembro de 2012, com 124 idosos do Programa de Prevenção de Quedas em um hospital terciário na cidade de São Paulo. Foram avaliados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos e testes de performance como Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Velocidade de Marcha, Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg (Berg Balance Scale, BBS), teste do sentar e levantar, medo de cair (Falls Efficacy Scale International, FES-I) e sintomas depressivos (Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, EDG). A posturografia estática foi realizada por meio de plataforma de força em três diferentes situações: olhos abertos (OA), olhos fechados (OF) e OA com dupla tarefa. Resultados: Foram avaliados 124 sujeitos com idade entre 60 e 88 anos, sendo 35 caidores únicos e 89 caidores recorrentes. Houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao relato de medo de cair (P= 0,01), sintomas depressivos (EDG) (P= 0,007), escala de eficácia em quedas - Internacional (FES-I) (P=0,01), consequência grave, como traumatismo cranioencefálico e fratura (P=0,002) e necessidade de ajuda para se levantar (P=0,007), sendo que essas duas últimas características são mais prevalentes no caidor único. A variável de amplitude média de deslocamento do centro de pressão (COP) no plano médio lateral (XSD) na condição de OF apresentou diferença entre grupos (P=0,011), assim como a velocidade...

Introduction: The recurrence of falls has been present in 50% of cases of elderly fallers, which predicts bad health outcomes for this population. Thus, it is important to understand the factors associated with these recurrent events so that the risk assessments are objective and allow the proposed interventions to meet the real needs of this population. Objective: To investigate whether the posturography test adds to the clinical evaluation in the ability to discriminate the recurrence of falls in the elderly. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted from August 2011 to November 2012, with 124 elderly from a Falls Prevention Program at a tertiary level hospital in the city of São Paulo. Sociodemographic, clinical and functional testing such as the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Speed Gait, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), five times sit-to-stand test, fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale - International, FES-I) and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depressive Scale, GDS) were evaluated. The static postGDurography was performed by means of a force platform in three different situations: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC) and EO dual task. Results: 124 subjects aged 60 to 88 years were evaluated, consisting of 35 single fallers and 89 recurrent fallers. Differences were found among the groups in terms of the reported fear of falling (p= 0.010), depressive symptoms (GDS) (p=0.007), Falls Efficacy Scale - International, (FES-I) (p=0.010), serious consequences such as traumatic brain injury and fracture (p=0.002) and the need for help to stand up (p= 0.007); the two last characteristics were more prevalent in single fallers. The variable of mean amplitude of center of pressure displacement (COP) in the median lateral plane (XSD) in the EC condition was different among groups (p =0.011), as was the average speed calculated through the total displacement of the COP in all directions (VAvg) in the EO condition (p= 0.014). After hierarchical...

Revisão de dois instrumentos clínicos de avaliação para predizer risco de quedas em idosos / Review of two clinical assessment tools to predict risk of falls in elderly

Introdução: Quedas são um problema clínico comum nos idosos, que pode reduzir sua mobilidade e independência. O uso de instrumentos simples para detecção do risco de quedas é fundamental para prevenção e tratamento de tais eventos. Não há, porém, consenso quanto aos testes mais adequados para cada situação. Objetivo: Revisar estudos sobre eficácia, sensibilidade e especificidade dos testes Timed Up and Go Test e Berg Balance Scale, a fim de verificar qual é o mais apropriado para predizer quedas em idosos. Métodos: Realizou-se revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados MEDLINE, PubMed, ISI, LILACS e Portal de Periódicos CAPES, entre os anos de 2001 e 2011. Resultados: Foram selecionados 37 artigos, sendo 17 sobre a Berg Balance Scale e 20 sobre o Timed Up and Go Test. A revisão mostrou que os dois testes podem ser bons preditores de quedas, mas os artigos diferiram quanto à definição de queda e caidor, tipo de estudo, quantidade e característica da amostra e avaliação de quedas, levando a diferentes resultados quanto a nota de corte, sensibilidade, especificidade e predição de quedas. Há controvérsias quanto à capacidade de predição em perfis específicos, como os idosos ativos. Conclusão: Os testes avaliados são eficazes para predição de quedas, desde que adaptados para cada perfil. Novos estudos devem ser realizados com metodologia homogênea, a fim de favorecer a comparação de resultados sobre a eficácia desses testes. .

Introduction: Fall is a common problem in the elderly and it can reduce their mobility and independence. The use of simple tools to detect risk of falls is essential to prevent and treat such events. However, there is no consensus about the most appropriate tools for each situation. Objective: To review studies about efficacy, sensitivity and specificity of Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in order to ascertain which is the most appropriate to predict falls in the elderly. Methods: We performed a literature review from MEDLINE, PubMed, ISI, LILACS and Portal de Periódicos CAPES databases, between 2001 and 2011. Results: We selected 17 different articles about BBS and 20 articles about TUGT. The review showed the two tools can be good predictors of falls. However, the articles differed in definition of fall and faller, type of study, quantity and characteristics of sample and assessment of falls, leading to different results as cutoff scores, sensitivity, specificity and prediction of fall. There is controversy about the ability of tools to predict falls in specific samples, such as active elderly. Conclusion: TUGT and BBS are effective to predict falls, provided they are adapted to each sample. Further studies should be performed using articles with homogeneous methods in order to support comparison of results about the effectiveness of tools. .