title: Change in Balance Confidence and Its Associations With Increasing Disability in Older Community-Dwelling Women at Risk for Falling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe change in balance confidence, and to identify associated factors and disabling consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of 2 years of data collected from 272 older women enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of fall prevention. Balance confidence and disability measures were assessed at baseline, after the 12 week intervention, and at 1 and 2 years follow-up. Associated factors were measured at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Balance confidence varied at baseline and decreased 5% over 2 years, but no variables predicted this decline. Baseline balance confidence was associated with poor physical function and mental health. Decreasing balance confidence was associated with increasing impairments in balance and hip flexion strength, increasing functional limitations in mobility and chair rises, reduced physical activity levels, increased activity restrictions, and decreasing social networks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreasing balance confidence plays an important role in disablement. More research is needed to identify predictors of decreasing balance confidence.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA carl0106@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Kristine M C
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wyman
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gaugler
keywords: balance confidence; disability; falls; fear of falling