Development of predictive models for the estimation of the probability of suffering fear of falling and other fall risk factors based on posturography parameters in community-dwelling older adults

    Lirios Dueñasa, , , Mercè Balasch i Bernata, , Silvia Mena del Hornoa, , Marta Aguilar-Rodrígueza, , Enrique Alcántarab

    a Departament de Fisioteràpia, Facultat de Fisioteràpia, Universitat de València, Gascó Oliag 5, 46010, Valencia, Spain
    b Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Edificio 9C, Valencia, Spain

    Received 20 October 2015, Revised 21 April 2016, Accepted 18 May 2016, Available online 30 May 2016

Abstract

Falls pose an important problem for older adults. Balance training is one of the main prevention strategies, but there is a lack of objective measurement methods that would allow the effectiveness of the treatments employed to be assessed. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between posturographic parameters and risk factors associated with falling, including the fear of falling (FoF). Forty-one healthy community-dwelling older adults were surveyed on their perception of problems considered to be fall risk factors. Balance measurement with posturography was performed. The relationships between risk factors and falls and risk factors and posturography were analysed by means of cross-tabulation and logistic regression, respectively. Experimental results showed a significant relationship between some of the posturographic parameters and various fall risk factors. Stability limits were related to FoF, and results from the Romberg test with eyes closed with and without foam correlated with problems in kneeling/crouching. The results from the Romberg test with eyes closed and foam correlated with osteoarthritis. Equations were developed to estimate the probability of having such problems. In conclusion, posturography is useful for the estimation of fall risk conditions in relation to three important fall risk factors (FoF, osteoarthritis and problems in kneeling/crouching), and it could be used for targeting, training and studying progress after the use of different treatments.
Relevance to industry

Posturography can be used as an assessment tool to analyse the effects of those treatments aimed at preventing falls. Furthermore, the equations derived from our results can be used along with posturographic variables to assess patient progress.