title: Co-relation between risk factors of falls down and the Berg balance scale in elderly people (third age).
abstract: This study encompassed 77 randomly assigned participants of both sexes and older than 65 of age. Every participant was questioned in his/her own house and completely familiarized with the methodology and the aims of the questionnaire. Out of 27 men, data on falls down were provided by 4 participants (14.81%): one of them lived alone while three of them lived in their families. Out of 50 women, data on falls down were provided by 17 (34%) participants: 9 of them lived in their families and 8 lived alone. Out of all living alone women 44% fell down twice or more during this study in comparison to 20% of living alone men. Regarding the values of the score of risk factors obtained throughout the questionnaire and the Berg balance scale, there are statistically significant differences between men and women (p < 0.005, i.e. p < 0.01), as well as participants that have never fallen down (p < 0.001, i.e. p < 0.01), while regarding the life style (living alone or in the family) there are no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Nowadays, the Berg balance scale is the most frequently used questionnaire that is, in total, significantly superior to other ever utilized tests. Average values of results obtained throughout the Berg balance scale in this study are statistically significantly higher in men and those participants who did not provide data on falls down, while regarding the life style there are no statistically significant differences.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic and Trauma Clinic KCU Sarajevo.
authors.forename: Dijana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avdić
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skrbo