title: Predictive value of stabilometry and fear of falling on falls in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Falls are one of the leading causes of fractures and impaired quality of life in the elderly, and they are related to balance deficit and to fear of falls. The purpose of our study is to evaluate predictors of falls in the 50-65-year-old postmenopausal population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted on 96 postmenopausal women. Fear of falling and postural stability were assessed by using the FES-I (Falls Efficacy Scale-International) and a force platform, respectively. Fall frequency was determined in the 12-month follow-up study period. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors of falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fear of falls, the FES-I scale and four stabilometric parameters, specifically under eyes-closed condition, were significantly higher in the group of fallers. The root mean square amplitude in the medial-lateral direction with eyes closed (RMSXec) (odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-15.5, p = 0.004) and FES-I (odds ratio 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.5, p = 0.026) were the best independent predictive factors of the risk of falling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RMSXec > 0.133 was the best predictive factor for falls in our group of 50-65-year-old postmenopausal women studied, and a FES-I score > 20 could predict falls in this population.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hita-Contreras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Amat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lomas-Vega
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aránega
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-López
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies