Citation

Zur O, Berner Y, Ohel Y, Carmeli E. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2018; 1040: 63-71.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Avenue, Haifa, 34988, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/5584_2017_100

PMID

29067628

Abstract

Adults over the age of 70 are at risk of falls. Early detection of risk of falls can suggest early interventions. In this study, we attempted to determine valid clinical tests that can differentiate older individuals who are at risk of falling. Older adults from an independent-living community volunteered to participate in this descriptive, cohort study. They were administered the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Zur Balance Scale (ZBS); Head Shaking Nystagmus Head Impulse Test, Dynamic Visual Acuity, and the Hallpike maneuver for evaluating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV); a questionnaire including sociodemographics and a health characteristics survey. Multivariate analysis indicated that a ZBS score < 51, previous fall, and number of medications strongly predict falls in older adults. ZBS score, BBS score, Hallpike maneuver, number of medications, deficit of vestibular ocular reflex, along with positive ZBS score and past fall differentiate between fallers and non-fallers. ZBS <51, taking >6 medications, and history of falls were a benchmark for high-risk of falling.

Language: en

Keywords

Aging; Balance; Falls; Vestibular ocular reflex; Vestibular system