TY - JOUR
T1 - Posterior single-stepping thresholds are prospectively related to falls in older women
AU - Crenshaw, Jeremy R.
AU - Bernhardt, Kathie A.
AU - Atkinson, Elizabeth J.
AU - Achenbach, Sara J.
AU - Khosla, Sundeep
AU - Amin, Shreyasee
AU - Kaufman, Kenton R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Background: Falls are a leading cause of injury in older women. Stepping thresholds quantify balance-reaction capabilities. It is unclear how such evaluations predict falls in comparison to, or as a complement to, other objective measures of gait, standing postural control, strength, and balance confidence. Aims: The objective of this study was to determine if stepping thresholds are prospectively related to falls in older women. Methods: For this prospective cohort study, 125 ambulatory, community-dwelling women, age ≥ 65 years were recruited. Using a treadmill to deliver perturbations to standing participants, we determined anteroposterior single- and multiple-stepping thresholds. Here, thresholds represent the minimum perturbation magnitudes that consistently evoke one step or multiple steps. In addition, gait kinematics, obstacle-crossing kinematics, standing sway measures, unipedal stance time, the functional reach, lower extremity isometric strength, grip strength, balance confidence, and fall history were evaluated. Falls were prospectively recorded for one year. Results: Seventy-four participants (59%) fell at least once. Posterior single-stepping thresholds were the only outcome that predicted future fall status (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01–2.28; AUC =.62). A multivariate approach added postural sway with eyes closed as a second predictive variable, although predictive abilities were not meaningfully improved. Discussion: These results align with the previous evidence that reactive balance is a prospective indicator of fall risk. Unlike previous studies, strength scaled to body size did not contribute to fall prediction. Conclusion: Posterior single-stepping thresholds held a significant relationship with future fall status. This relationship was independent of, and superior to that of, other measures of standing balance, gait, strength, and balance confidence.
AB - Background: Falls are a leading cause of injury in older women. Stepping thresholds quantify balance-reaction capabilities. It is unclear how such evaluations predict falls in comparison to, or as a complement to, other objective measures of gait, standing postural control, strength, and balance confidence. Aims: The objective of this study was to determine if stepping thresholds are prospectively related to falls in older women. Methods: For this prospective cohort study, 125 ambulatory, community-dwelling women, age ≥ 65 years were recruited. Using a treadmill to deliver perturbations to standing participants, we determined anteroposterior single- and multiple-stepping thresholds. Here, thresholds represent the minimum perturbation magnitudes that consistently evoke one step or multiple steps. In addition, gait kinematics, obstacle-crossing kinematics, standing sway measures, unipedal stance time, the functional reach, lower extremity isometric strength, grip strength, balance confidence, and fall history were evaluated. Falls were prospectively recorded for one year. Results: Seventy-four participants (59%) fell at least once. Posterior single-stepping thresholds were the only outcome that predicted future fall status (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01–2.28; AUC =.62). A multivariate approach added postural sway with eyes closed as a second predictive variable, although predictive abilities were not meaningfully improved. Discussion: These results align with the previous evidence that reactive balance is a prospective indicator of fall risk. Unlike previous studies, strength scaled to body size did not contribute to fall prediction. Conclusion: Posterior single-stepping thresholds held a significant relationship with future fall status. This relationship was independent of, and superior to that of, other measures of standing balance, gait, strength, and balance confidence.
KW - Balance
KW - Balance reactions
KW - Gait
KW - SAFER
KW - Standing sway
KW - Strength
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U2 - 10.1007/s40520-020-01480-9
DO - 10.1007/s40520-020-01480-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 32060804
AN - SCOPUS:85079706310
SN - 1594-0667
VL - 32
SP - 2507
EP - 2515
JO - Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
JF - Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
IS - 12
ER -