title: Impact of obesity in elderly patients with postural instability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to assess whether obesity affects balance in elderly patients with postural instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a case-control study, with cases defined by BMI ≥30 kg/m(2), and developed in a third level university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 135 patients aged 65 years old or more who presented postural instability. Balance assessment was through the sensory organisation test (SOT), limits of stability (LOS) and rhythmic weight shift (RWS) of computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) and the modified timed up-and-go (TUG) test. The patients also completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and short Falls Efficacy Scale-International questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with obesity took longer to perform the modified TUG and required more steps. Also these patients had poorer scores in the subjective tests. In the CDP there were no significant differences in the SOT nor the LOS, and only there was a statistical significant difference in the anterior-posterior directional control of the RWS. Obese patients have a higher risk of fallings compared to non-obese patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In essence, our results indicate that obesity interferes in the balance of elderly patients with postural instability, putting them at a greater risk of fallings, performing worse dynamic tasks and feeling more disabled. Although continued education on training balance may be useful in older population, since the obese group shows more rate of fallers, rehabilitation programmes focus on dynamic tasks in these patients could be useful to reduce their fall risk and improve their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Calle Dr. Ulises Romero, 1, 27003, Lugo, Spain. Marcos_Rossi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi-Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faraldo-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vaamonde-Sánchez-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gayoso-Diz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del-Río-Valeiras
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lirola-Delgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soto-Varela
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Computerised dynamic posturography; Dizziness handicap inventory; Obesity; Short FES-I; The elderly; Timed up and go