title: Prediction of future falls in a community dwelling older adult population using instrumented balance and gait analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of instrumented balance and gait assessment when screening for prospective fallers is currently a topic of controversial discussion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzed the association between variables derived from static posturography, instrumented gait analysis and clinical assessments with the occurrence of prospective falls in a sample of community dwelling older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study 84 older people were analyzed. Based on a prospective occurrence of falls, participants were categorized into fallers and non-fallers. Variables derived from clinical assessments, static posturography and instrumented gait analysis were evaluated with respect to the association with the occurrence of prospective falls using a forward stepwise, binary, logistic regression procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fallers displayed a significantly shorter single support time during walking while counting backwards, increased mediolateral to anteroposterior sway amplitude ratio, increased fast mediolateral oscillations and a larger coefficient (Coeff) of sway direction during various static posturography tests. Previous falls were insignificantly associated with the occurrence of prospective falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variables derived from posturography and instrumented gait analysis showed significant associations with the occurrence of prospective falls in a sample of community dwelling older adults.
authors: Geriatrics Centre Erlangen, Medicine III, Waldkrankenhaus St Marien, Rathsberger Str. 57, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. christoph.bauer@zhaw.ch.|School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Research and Development, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumstr. 71, P.O. Box, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland. christoph.bauer@zhaw.ch.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Bauer
authors: Geriatrics Centre Erlangen, Medicine III, Waldkrankenhaus St Marien, Rathsberger Str. 57, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Gröger
authors: Institute of Psychogerontology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen- Nuremberg, Kobergerstr. 62, 90408, Nuremburg, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rupprecht
authors: School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Research and Development, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumstr. 71, P.O. Box, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors: V L
authors: VL
authors: Marcar
authors: Geriatrics Centre Erlangen, Medicine III, Waldkrankenhaus St Marien, Rathsberger Str. 57, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: K G
authors: KG
authors: Gaßmann
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056044:Actigraphy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Accidental falls; Gait; Geriatric assessment; Postural balance; Prognosis