Patrícia Azevedo Garcia1, Letícia Lopes de Queiroz2, Mônica Batista Duarte Caetano3, Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça E Silva4, Tânia Cristina Dias da Silva Hamu5. 1. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB) - Campus Ceilândia, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: patriciaagarcia@unb.br. 2. Graduation in Physical Therapy, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil. 3. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB) - Campus Ceilândia, Brasília, DF, Brazil. 4. Postgraduate Program in Gertontology, Universidade Católica de Brasilia (UCB), Brasília, DF, Brazil. 5. Universidade Estadual de Goiás (UEG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between body mass index (BMI), fear of falling and body balance, especially on unstable surfaces. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether obesity is associated with worse postural balance and fear of falling in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 older adults, classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI. Postural balance was evaluated on stable and unstable surfaces on the Biodex Balance System platform under three visual conditions: with and without visual feedback and with eyes closed. Fear of falling was identified by a dichotomous question and the Falls Efficacy Scale. These data were compared between groups and included in adjusted multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The study showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in body oscillations on a stable surface between the three groups. On an unstable surface, the obese older adults exhibited body oscillations from 0.61° [95% CI 0.07, 1.30] to 1.63° [95% CI 0.84, 2.41] greater than those with normal weight in the three visual conditions. The obese older adults also displayed larger mediolateral oscillations with visual feedback (mean difference: 0.50° [95% CI 0.01, 0.98]) as well as greater global oscillations without visual feedback (mean difference of 0.82° [95% CI 0.18, 1.81]) and with progressive instability (mean difference: 0.80° [95% CI 0.05, 1.66]) than the overweight older adults. BMI explained from 6 to 12% of body swings investigated on unstable surface. Obesity was not associated with fear of falling. CONCLUSION: Obesity was associated with reduced postural stability on unstable surfaces but not with fear of falling in older adults.
BACKGROUND: There are inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between body mass index (BMI), fear of falling and body balance, especially on unstable surfaces. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether obesity is associated with worse postural balance and fear of falling in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 older adults, classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI. Postural balance was evaluated on stable and unstable surfaces on the Biodex Balance System platform under three visual conditions: with and without visual feedback and with eyes closed. Fear of falling was identified by a dichotomous question and the Falls Efficacy Scale. These data were compared between groups and included in adjusted multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The study showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in body oscillations on a stable surface between the three groups. On an unstable surface, the obese older adults exhibited body oscillations from 0.61° [95% CI 0.07, 1.30] to 1.63° [95% CI 0.84, 2.41] greater than those with normal weight in the three visual conditions. The obese older adults also displayed larger mediolateral oscillations with visual feedback (mean difference: 0.50° [95% CI 0.01, 0.98]) as well as greater global oscillations without visual feedback (mean difference of 0.82° [95% CI 0.18, 1.81]) and with progressive instability (mean difference: 0.80° [95% CI 0.05, 1.66]) than the overweight older adults. BMI explained from 6 to 12% of body swings investigated on unstable surface. Obesity was not associated with fear of falling. CONCLUSION:Obesity was associated with reduced postural stability on unstable surfaces but not with fear of falling in older adults.
Authors: Christopher W Frames; Rahul Soangra; Thurmon E Lockhart; John Lach; Dong Sam Ha; Karen A Roberto; Abraham Lieberman Journal: Sensors (Basel) Date: 2018-05-24 Impact factor: 3.576