Nemmers Theresa M, Miller Janice Williams
School of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA.
J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2008;31(3):93-100. doi: 10.1519/00139143-200831030-00003.
This study investigates the influence of the forward head posture, balance confidence, and physical activity levels on balance stability in healthy community living older women.
This descriptive study included 203 women volunteers [age range: 60 to 95 years, mean age of 77.33 years (SD 7.59)]. Forward head position (FHP) was assessed via photographic analysis of a sagittal photo taken during the seventh task of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Each subject completed the Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Balance stability was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Data analysis included descriptive indices, bivariate correlations, and regression analyses to determine the best predictor of balance stability.
Known risk factors for balance deficits (balance confidence and physical activity) were significantly positively correlated, and age was inversely related to these factors. Forward head posture was significantly negatively related to the known risk factors but positively correlated to age. Regression analyses identified balance confidence, physical activity, and age as significant predictors of balance stability accounting for 43% (p < .0001) of the total variance in balance stability. The forward head posture variable added a significant 6.1% (p < .0001) to the total variance in balance stability, suggesting that the forward head posture plays role in balance stability.
The forward head posture-balance stability relationship found in this population of healthy community-dwelling older women, provides evidence to support inclusion of postural exercises for head position in balance training programs. Additionally, this research further supported the relationships between balance stability and balance confidence and physical activity. Further research is needed in the domain of intervention studies which incorporate these variables.
本研究调查了健康社区居住老年女性的头部前倾姿势、平衡信心和身体活动水平对平衡稳定性的影响。
这项描述性研究纳入了203名女性志愿者[年龄范围：60至95岁，平均年龄77.33岁（标准差7.59）]。通过对伯格平衡量表（BBS）第七项任务期间拍摄的矢状面照片进行图像分析来评估头部前倾位置（FHP）。每位受试者完成特定活动平衡信心量表（ABC）和老年人身体活动量表（PASE）。使用伯格平衡量表（BBS）评估平衡稳定性。数据分析包括描述性指标、双变量相关性和回归分析，以确定平衡稳定性的最佳预测因素。
已知的平衡缺陷风险因素（平衡信心和身体活动）显著正相关，年龄与这些因素呈负相关。头部前倾姿势与已知风险因素显著负相关，但与年龄正相关。回归分析确定平衡信心、身体活动和年龄是平衡稳定性的显著预测因素，占平衡稳定性总方差的43%（p <.0001）。头部前倾姿势变量使平衡稳定性总方差显著增加了6.1%（p <.0001），表明头部前倾姿势在平衡稳定性中起作用。
在这群健康的社区居住老年女性中发现的头部前倾姿势与平衡稳定性之间的关系，为支持在平衡训练计划中纳入头部姿势的姿势练习提供了证据。此外，本研究进一步支持了平衡稳定性与平衡信心和身体活动之间的关系。在纳入这些变量的干预研究领域还需要进一步的研究。
