Functional balance among elderly in a gerontological rehabilitation service

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the functional of balance among elderly subjects in a Gerontological Rehabilitation Service and to identify the degree of that association to demographic, functional and clinical data. It is a cross-sectional study. The sample was constituted of 93 patient assessed through a comprehensive gerontological screening. The patient's ages were 65 or over. Most of the sample was female (75.3%) and the mean age was 76.00 ± 6.35 years old. For the functional assessment of the balance, the instruments used were the Berg Balance Scale, subdivided in 5 dimensions and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The mean score of BBS was of 51.28 ± 4.97 points and only 10.8% of the cases had the scores below 46 points. The mean score of TUGTwas of 13.96 ± 6.55 seconds, and 12.9% accomplished the test in 20.01 seconds or more. BBS was correlated with TUGT (p < 0.001), with use of gait assistive device (p = 0.015) and with the presence of neurological disorders (p = 0.003). There was association among the occurrence of falls and the dimensions of BBS: reach functional (p = 0.015), rotational components (p = 0.020) and reduced base of support (p = 0.002). Recurrent falls were associated to the reach functional test (p = 0.016). The majority of outpatient elderly subjects in a gerontological rehabilitation unit was not impaired concerning functional balance skills. The presence of neurological diseases, the occurrence of falls and the use of gait assistive devices were associated to the balance impairment.