Reliability and validity of a simple measurement method of lateral balance ability in elderly people / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of extended reach lateral method by assessing the ability of lateral balance control in elderly people,and to provide a simple method to assess the ability of lateral balance control in order to provide a reasonable basis for fall prevention in elderly people.Methods 83 elderly people aged (77.3 ± 4.7) years were included in this study.Using lateral displacement of center of foot pressure as the criterion,the reliability and validity of extended reach lateral method was evaluated.Results Left and right sides of lateral reach were (14.7±0.4) cmand (14.9±0.3) cm.Left and right sides of center of foot pressure excursion were (8.5±1.9) cm and (8.5±1.5) cm.Lateral reach was significantly correlated with the center of foot pressure excursion (r=0.70,P＜0.001).Lateral reach had a high intraclass correlation coefficient (r=0.97,P＜0.05).Lateral reach was significantly correlated with age and height (r=-0.23 and 0.28,both P＜0.05),while it had no correlations with the foot length,foot pitch and handedness (all P＞0.05).Conclusions Lateral reach has a high reliability and validity to assess the ability of lateral balance control in elderly people,which is easy to be applicated and popularized.