Selected Tools for Assessing the Risk of Falls in Older Women

Patrycja Bobowik; Ida Wiszomirska; Anna Leś; Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk

doi:10.1155/2020/2065201

Selected Tools for Assessing the Risk of Falls in Older Women

Biomed Res Int. 2020 Nov 12:2020:2065201. doi: 10.1155/2020/2065201. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Patrycja Bobowik¹, Ida Wiszomirska¹, Anna Leś², Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland.
² Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Methods: Fifty-five females were examined (May 2018-June 2019). Stabilographic examinations were performed with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman rank correlation were performed to determine the relationships and differences between the above tests.

Results: The results of the TUG correlate with the overall stability index (OSI) EO (r = 0.314), medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) EO (r = 0.297), and fall risk index (FRI6-2; r = 0.435) in stabilographic examinations and the FRT (r = -0.399). The results of the modified Unterberger test correlate with MLSI EO (r = 0.276), OSI EC (r = 0.310), and MLSI EC (r = 0.378). There are statistically significant differences between faller and nonfaller groups in TUG (p = 0.0068), FRT (p = 0.001), and MLSI EO (p = 0.0118).

Conclusions: The modified Unterberger test and TUG can be considered effective in functional FR assessment in older women. Using at least two different functional tests may improve the assessment of FR.

MeSH terms

Accidental Falls*
Aged
Female
Geriatric Assessment / methods*
Humans
Risk Factors