Freitas C1, Masson I1, Gonçalves F1, Silva M1, Oliveira A1
1Universidade Paulista, ICS-Fisioterapia, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: The prevalence of hyperkyphosis in older individuals has been reported to be between 20% and 40%. It may be associated with physical function impairment including worse balance, wider stance and slower gait velocity. These factors have been associated with an increased risk of falls.
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between thoracic hyperkyphosis and balance in elderly individuals.
Methods: Sixty one elderly individuals who were consecutively sampled from Physiotherapy Clinic of Universidade Paulista participated in the cross-sectional survey. Participants' personal data of age, sex, weight and height were obtained. The Flexicurve method was used for the assessment of thoracic kyphosis. Balance was assessed with the Berg Balance scale, Romberg test and Functional Reach test. Data was analyzed using Pearson moments correlation and alpha was set at p 0.05.
Results: Participants (14 men and 47 women) were aged 78.03 ± 9.34 years. Participants' mean weight and height were 67.80 ± 12.82 kg and 1.58 ± 0.09 m. Their mean degree of thoracic hyperkyphosis was 65.73º ± 10.58º. Participants balance scores were 44.05 points ± 7.58 on the Berg Balance scale, 16.29 cm ± 6.36 on the Functional Reach test and 89% positive, 11% negative on the Romberg test. There were no significant correlations with thoracic hyperkyphosis and each of the balance scores: Berg Balance Scale (r= - 0.22, p= 0.08); Romberg Test (r= - 0.13, p= 0.31) and Functional Reach Test (r= - 0.08 p= 0.52).
Conclusion(s): Thoracic hyperkyphosis is not associated with balance among elderly individuals.
Implications: The clinical implication of the present study is that individuals with postural changes do not necessarily reproduce a body imbalance. Balance control can be compensated by other systems, compensatory and anticipatory adjustments or body strategies. Possibly changes related to the muscle strength or mobility of the joints involved in balance strategies are more important to be assessed in elderly individuals.
Keywords: Postural Balance, Aged, Kyphosis
Funding acknowledgements: This work was unfunded
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between thoracic hyperkyphosis and balance in elderly individuals.
Methods: Sixty one elderly individuals who were consecutively sampled from Physiotherapy Clinic of Universidade Paulista participated in the cross-sectional survey. Participants' personal data of age, sex, weight and height were obtained. The Flexicurve method was used for the assessment of thoracic kyphosis. Balance was assessed with the Berg Balance scale, Romberg test and Functional Reach test. Data was analyzed using Pearson moments correlation and alpha was set at p 0.05.
Results: Participants (14 men and 47 women) were aged 78.03 ± 9.34 years. Participants' mean weight and height were 67.80 ± 12.82 kg and 1.58 ± 0.09 m. Their mean degree of thoracic hyperkyphosis was 65.73º ± 10.58º. Participants balance scores were 44.05 points ± 7.58 on the Berg Balance scale, 16.29 cm ± 6.36 on the Functional Reach test and 89% positive, 11% negative on the Romberg test. There were no significant correlations with thoracic hyperkyphosis and each of the balance scores: Berg Balance Scale (r= - 0.22, p= 0.08); Romberg Test (r= - 0.13, p= 0.31) and Functional Reach Test (r= - 0.08 p= 0.52).
Conclusion(s): Thoracic hyperkyphosis is not associated with balance among elderly individuals.
Implications: The clinical implication of the present study is that individuals with postural changes do not necessarily reproduce a body imbalance. Balance control can be compensated by other systems, compensatory and anticipatory adjustments or body strategies. Possibly changes related to the muscle strength or mobility of the joints involved in balance strategies are more important to be assessed in elderly individuals.
Keywords: Postural Balance, Aged, Kyphosis
Funding acknowledgements: This work was unfunded
Topic: Older people; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Universidade Paulista
Ethics committee: Ethics committee Universidade Paulista
Ethics number: 1958839
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
