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N. Labata-Lezaun1, J. Rodríguez-Sanz1, C. López-de-Celis2, V. González-Rueda2, M. Canet-Vintró1, L. Llurda-Almuzara3, A. Pérez-Bellmunt1
1Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Basic Sciences, Barcelona, Spain, 2Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Physiotherapy, Barcelona, Spain, 3EUNEIZ, Vitoria, Spain
Background: Falls are a common and serious threat to the health and independence of older adults. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, approximately one in three older adults suffer a fall each year. There are several factors that increase the likelihood of an older adult suffering a fall. Among these factors are the subjective perception of fear of falling, as well as alterations in static balance.
Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between eyes-open and eyes-closed static balance; and the perception of fear of falling in older adults.
Methods: A correlation study was designed with 50 healthy subjects over 65 years of age. Balance was assessed by means of the stabilometric variables of surface area and length. Fear of falling was assessed with de Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I). The data were analyzed with the Jamovi v.1.6.23 software.
Results: Significant week correlations (p<0.05) were found between FES-I and the closed-eyes stabilometric parameters length (rho=0.387) and surface (rho=0.289). No significant correlation where found in the open-eyes stabilometric parameters.
Conclusions: There is a weak correlation between static balance with eyes closed and perceived fear of falling in older adults.
Implications: The results of the present study suggest the need to assess older adults with different tools, both objective (stabilometry) and subjective (FES-I) in order to establish a more complete falls risk profile.
Funding acknowledgements: None
Keywords:
fear of falling
elderly
static balance
fear of falling
elderly
static balance
Topics:
Older people
Primary health care
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Older people
Primary health care
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Committee: Ethics Committee Research Committee (CER) of Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Ethics number: CBAS-2020-12
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
