Article

The aim of the present study was to determine whether force plate variables in
single- and dual-task situations are able to predict the risk of multiple falls
in a community-dwelling elderly population. Two hundred and seventy elderly
persons (225 females, 45 males; age, 73+/-7 years) performed balance assessment
with and without vision. Seven force plate variables were assessed to predict the
risk of multiple falls; maximum displacement in the anteroposterior and
medial-lateral directions (Max-AP, Max-ML), mean displacement in the
medial-lateral direction (MML), the root mean square amplitude in anteroposterior
and medial-lateral directions (RMS-AP, RMS-ML), the average speed of displacement
(V), and the area of the 95th percentile ellipse (AoE). Falls were prospectively
recorded during the following year. A total of 437 registered falls occurred
during monitoring period.
The force plate variable RMS-ML in the single-task
condition (odds ratio, 21.8) predicted multiple falls together with the following
covariables: history of multiple falls (odds ratio, 5.6), use of medications
(fall-risk medications or multiple medicine use; odds ratio, 2.3), and gender
(odds ratio, 0.34). Multiple fallers had a narrower stance width than
non-fallers.
CI - Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS