Risk of falls in Brazilian elders with and without low back pain assessed using the Physiological Profile Assessment: BACE study

Abstract

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal condition among elders and is associated with falls. However, the underlying biological risk factors for falling among elders with LBP has been poorly investigated. The Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) is a validated fall-risk assessment tool that involves the direct assessment of sensorimotor abilities and may contribute to the understanding of risk factors for falls among elders with LBP.ObjectiveTo assess fall risk using the PPA in elders with and without LBP.MethodThis is an observational, comparative, cross-sectional study with elders aged ≥65 years. The present study was conducted with a subsample of participants from the Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE) - Brazil study. Fall risk was assessed using the PPA, which contains five tests: visual contrast sensitivity, hand reaction time, quadriceps strength, lower limb proprioception, and postural sway.ResultsStudy participants included 104 individuals with average age of 72.3 (SD=4.0) years, divided into two groups: GI) 52 participants with LBP; GII) 52 participants without LBP. The participants with LBP had a significantly higher fall risk (1.10 95% CI 0.72 to 1.48), greater postural sway (49.78 95% CI 13.54 to 86.01), longer reaction time (58.95 95% CI 33.24 to 84.65), and lower quadriceps strength (–4.42 95% CI –8.24 to –0.59) compared to asymptomatic participants. There was no significant difference for vision and proprioception tests between LBP and non-LBP participants.ConclusionElders with LBP have greater risk for falls than those without LBP. Our results suggest fall-risk screening may be sensible in elders with LBP.

Disability in older adults with acute low back pain: the study Back Complaints in the Elderly – (Brazil)

“…It is part of the multicenter project named Back Complaints in the Elderly (BACE), a prospective observational epidemiological cohort study developed by an international consortium in the Netherlands, Australia, and Brazil. 11 , 12 This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil (ETIC 0100.0.203.000-11).…”

Physiological Profile Assessment of Posture in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Peers

“…The PPA has been used on healthy individuals [ 31 ], subjects with neurological disorders to assess postural impairments [ 32 , 33 , 34 ] and the elderly with musculoskeletal disorders [ 35 ]. This instrument, based on interval scales [ 36 ], has been demonstrated to have psychometrically sound proprieties with a lower administrative burden compared with biomechanical assessments using motion capture and force platforms [ 30 , 33 ].…”

The Brazilian Back Complaints in the Elders (Brazilian BACE) study: characteristics of Brazilian older adults with a new episode of low back pain

“…A recent systematic review revealed that musculoskeletal pain is associated with an increased risk of falls in community-dwelling older adults (OR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.36–1.79), 18 thus LBP can also be associated with such events. 19 In more active older adults, having reduced self-efficacy can be associated with some protective behavior in them triggered by falling, and this behavior could have a negative impact in function. 20 Particularly comorbidities are also associated with the burden of pain whereas having other musculoskeletal conditions might negatively impact the lower back.…”