Body Weight Distribution and Body Sway in Healthy Female Adults Aged between 51 and 60 Years in Germany—Standard Values

Ohlendorf, Daniela; Keller, Julia; Sosnov, Polyna; Ackermann, Hanns; Keil, Fee; Maurer-Grubinger, Christian; Holzgreve, Fabian; Oremek, G. M.; Groneberg, David A.

doi:10.3390/app12199591

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 55 publications

(115 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Increased body sway during standing tasks indicates decreased balance and has been considered a potential risk factor for falls [53][54][55]. Other studies have used the COM-95% ellipse to assess balance in healthy and unhealthy middle-aged and older adults [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. However, to our knowledge, this is the rst study that used the COM-95% ellipse to test balance in healthy middle-aged adults and compare them with young adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the Brief-BESTest partially instrumented with accelerometry to detect balance deterioration in middle-age

Baranes,

Hayek,

Gutman

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Most standardized balance tests cannot detect subtle balance deterioration in middle age, or identify those at higher risk for accelerated balance decline due to a ceiling effect. Aims To determine whether the Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief-BESTest), partially instrumented with accelerometry, can detect balance deterioration in middle age and identify individuals with poor balance. Methods We studied young (25.3±2.3 years), early middle-aged (47.7±2.6 years), and late middle-aged adults (60.6±3.6 years), with 25 participants in each age group. Subjects wore an accelerometer on their lower back while performing the Brief-BESTest. Balance measurements included the Brief-BESTest total and sub-measures scores, and postural sway during the Brief-BESTest standing tasks, calculated by the 95% confidence ellipse trajectory of the center of mass (COM-95% ellipse). Results Compared to the two middle-aged groups, young adults had better total Brief-BESTest and sub-measures scores, apart from the Stability-in-Gait sub-measure, and less postural sway during the Sensory-Orientation sub-measure. The total Brief-BESTest scores as well as the Biomechanical-Constraints and Sensory-Orientation sub-measures differed also between early and late middle-aged adults. Both the Brief-BESTest total scores and the Sensory-Orientation postural sway values demonstrated increased variation with age, allowing to identify subjects with poor balance. A moderate negative correlation (r = -0.43) was found between the Brief-BESTest total score and the COM-95% ellipse size, and a moderate agreement (k = 0.56) in identifying subjects with poor performance in the early but not the late middle age group. Conclusions The Brief-BESTest test combined with accelerometry could be a suitable screening tool to identify middle-aged people with early balance deterioration and potentially identify those with poor balance and a possible higher risk for falls. Clinicians and policymakers can use our findings to implement balance assessment programs in patients <65 years, leading to preventive strategies before the risk increases.

show abstract