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Journal Article

Citation

Maranesi E, Merlo A, Fioretti S, Zemp DD, Campanini I, Quadri P. Clin. Biomech. 2016; 32: 8-13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2015.12.009

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background
Identification of future non-fallers, infrequent and frequent fallers among older people would permit focusing the delivery of prevention programs on selected individuals. Posturographic parameters have been proven to differentiate between non-fallers and frequent fallers, but not between the first group and infrequent fallers.

Methods
In this study, postural stability with eyes open and closed on both a firm and a compliant surface and while performing a cognitive task was assessed in a consecutive sample of 130 cognitively able elderly, mean age 77(7)years, categorized as non-fallers (N = 67), infrequent fallers (one/two falls, N = 45) and frequent fallers (more than two falls, N = 18) according to their last year fall history. Principal Component Analysis was used to select the most significant features from a set of 17posturographic parameters. Next, variables derived from principal component analysis were used to test, in each task, group differences between the three groups.

Findings
One parameter based on a combination of a set of Centre of Pressure anterior-posterior variables obtained from the eyes-open on a compliant surface task was statistically different among all groups, thus distinguishing infrequent fallers from both non-fallers (P < 0.05) and frequent fallers (P < 0.05).

Interpretation
For the first time, a method based on posturographic data to retrospectively discriminate infrequent fallers was obtained. The joint use of both the eyes-open on a compliant surface condition and this new parameter could be used, in a future study, to improve the performance of protocols and to verify the ability of this method to identify new-fallers in elderly without cognitive impairment.


Language: en

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