title: Posturographic limits of stability can predict the increased risk of falls in elderly patients with instability?
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  There was a difference in average score of the sensory organization test (SOT) of the case group (elderly instability) compared to the control group (healthy subjects). Cases had worse scores on the limits of stability (LOS) than controls, but were only able to confirm statistically significant differences in the movement velocity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the LOS of elderly patients with instability vs healthy subjects of the same age to try to explain the increased risk of falls in elderly patients with instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty individuals ≥65 years, 30 cases (at least one of the next inclusion criteria: ≥1 fall in the last 12 months, >15 s or some support in the timed up and go test, composite <68 in SOT, ≥1 fall during production of the SOT) compared to 20 controls. Postural study: SOT and LOS, Smart Equitest Neurocom®platform.
  
  
  METHODS
  t-Student test (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean value of overall balance: patients with instability =56% vs controls =77.1% (p < 0.001). Movement velocity: cases =2243°/s vs controls =2860°/s (p = 0.029). The reaction time (cases =1217 s vs controls =1.077 s), excursion (56.95% vs 59.35%) and directional control (56.95% vs 59.35%) differences were not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization Complexo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faraldo-García
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization Complexo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos-Pérez
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otolaryngology , University Hospital Lucus Augusti , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi-Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization Complexo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lirola-Delgado
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization Complexo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vaamonde-Sánchez-Andrade
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization Complexo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del-Río-Valeiras
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology , Organization 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; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance
keywords: Elderly; dynamic posturography; limits of stability; risk of falls; vestibular rehabilitation