Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2007 , Vol 10, Issue 4
THE RELATION BETWEEN BALANCE, AGE AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS
Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği ANKARA Introduction: As balance is a key for mobility, it is important in all ages. Balance detoriorates with aging and becomes a risk factor for falls. This study was planned to investigate the effect of age on static balance parameters, and the relation of balance parameters with functional status and physical activity level.

Materials and Method: 60 geriatric patient aged between 65-88 years old were recruited. Balance and physical activity tests were assessed.

Results: Sharpened Romberg and single leg standing tests had negative correlation with age (r r:-0.417, p:0.001 and r:-0.265, p:0.042 respectively), and with five times sit to stand test (r:- r:-0.290, p:0.026 and r:-0.265, p:0.042 respectively). We found positive correlation of 30 meters walking test with activity level and five times sit to stand test( r:-0.338, p:0.008 and r:0267, p:0.041respectively)

Conclusion: Balance parameters deteriorates with age, sit to stand test correlates with age, balance and walking time. For our patient population we have the opinion that more active life style is not protective for balance deterioration but it provides fastness in movement patterns but for more definite comments it is necessary to make studies which consist of more active people and have a great number of participants. Keywords : Geriatrics, Sharpened Romberg, Single leg stance test, 5 times sit to stand test