UNLABELLED

Unipedal standing time was shorter and bone mineral density was lower in Japanese women aged 50 years and over with low-energy distal radius fractures resulting from falls than those in age-matched community-dwelling Japanese women without distal radius fractures.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare unipedal standing time and bone mineral density (BMD) of women >or=50 years of age with distal radius fractures with those of age-matched women without fractures.

METHODS

Fracture group was 54 Japanese women with low-energy distal radius fractures resulting from fall. Non-fracture group was 52 community-dwelling Japanese women without fractures. Unipedal standing time and BMD were measured.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age and body mass index between the two groups. The percentage of women with unipedal standing time <15 s was 44.4% in the fracture group and 13.5% in the non-fracture group, while the respective frequencies for >120 s were 20.4% and 50.0%. The T-score of BMD was significantly lower in the fracture than non-fracture group. Logistic regression analysis identified unipedal standing time <15 s and T-score <70% as significant factors associated with distal radius fractures. Notably, T-score <70% was significant in subjects <65 years, and unipedal standing time <15 s was significant in those >or=65 years.

CONCLUSION

Unipedal standing time was shorter and BMD was lower in women >or=50 years of age with distal radius fractures than those in age-matched women without fractures.