Equilíbrio funcional de idosos da comunidade: comparação em relação ao histórico de quedas

Abstract

Functional balance among older adults from the community: a comparison of their history of falls AbstractBackground: Human balance is a complex motor task. Its maintenance is essential to accomplishing daily tasks. The aging process and the chronic diseases that affect older adults lead to serious balance disorders, thus making such individuals more susceptible to falls. Objectives: To evaluate the functional balance of community-dwelling older adults and to make a comparison between those with no history of falls, those with one fall and those with recurrent falls. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample was composed of 96 individuals from the community aged 65 years or older. They were divided equally into three groups according to their reported history of falls over the preceding year. Functional balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed up and Go Test (TUGT). Results: The older adults with a history of one fall or recurrent falls had longer performance times in the TUGT than did those with no history of falls, and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). In the BBS evaluation, the older adults with a history of recurrent falls scored significantly lower than those with no history of falls (p=0.013). A moderate association was found between the BBS and TUGT results in the three groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The older adults with a history of falls performed poorly in the functional balance evaluation compared to those with no history of falls. These data demonstrate the importance of the balance tests in clinical practice as screening tools for older adults who are more susceptible to falls.Key words: older adult; balance; falls. ResumoContextualização: O equilíbrio humano é uma tarefa motora complexa, e a sua manutenção é essencial para a realização das tarefas cotidianas. O processo de envelhecimento e as doenças crônicas que acometem os idosos geram sérios distúrbios de equilíbrio, Palavras-chave: idoso; equilíbrio; quedas.

Avaliação da tendência à quedas em idosos de Sergipe

“…Despite that it was a convenience sample, the results achieved converge with studies that reveal a process of feminization of aging, subsidized by a higher mortality rate in males and increased life expectancy in females 1,12 .…”

Effects of a health promotion and fall prevention program in elderly individuals participating in interaction groups

“…with low risk of falls; over 20 seconds represents a significant deficit in physical mobility and risk of falls (18).…”

“…Increased risk of falling is considered when the time taken for task completion is over 20 seconds (17). As stated by Gonçalves et al (18), 10 seconds is the period classified as normal for healthy and independent adults to complete the test with no risk of falls; from 11 to 20 seconds is the period expected for elderly people with impairments or who are frail, who are partially independent and population is more susceptible to diseases. However, the primary investment should be on prevention aiming at avoiding later expenditures with treatments, hospitalizations and others" (11).…”

Short-term effects of additional sensory information in mobility and gait speed in older fallers

“…Cognitive screening was performed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the cut-off score was defined by schooling (18,19) . All participants were considered old ladies with self-reported one or more falls occurring in the 12 months prior to the date of the initial evaluation (20,21) . The procedures were carried out in the didactic laboratories of the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Building on the campus of the University -UNESP in the Philosophy and Sciences Faculty, Marília, SP.…”