Cho C Y, Kamen G
Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Apr;46(4):426-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02461.x.
This investigation sought to determine whether older idiopathic frequent fallers could be distinguished from healthy older adults on the basis of balance and movement coordination tests. A secondary objective was to determine the relationships among clinical balance test scores, balance performance data obtained by accelerometry, and quantitative motor coordination tests.
Two group comparison designs.
A motor control research laboratory in a university setting.
The 16 subjects recruited for this study included eight healthy older subjects and eight age-matched idiopathic fallers.
Each participant's balance performance was assessed by accelerometry, as well as by coordination and clinical tests. Accelerometry scores, obtained by 1g accelerometers placed at the hip and on the head, were made with eyes open or closed, either standing on the floor or on a wedge of compliant foam. Clinical balance scores were obtained using variants of Romberg's test and the functional reach test. Motor coordination tests obtained included the heel-to-toe transition and rapid stepping tests.
Statistically significant differences were obtained between groups for all accelerometry variables except root mean square. All accelerometry variables were successful in discriminating between head and hip sites. Moreover, the amplitude of sway obtained from accelerometry data identified significant differences among the four test conditions. The Romberg test, using right leg alone with eyes open, showed a significant difference between fallers and healthy older subjects. Walking velocity was significantly faster for normal older subjects than for fallers (1.10 m/sec vs 0.80 m/sec). No significant between-group differences were obtained using the functional reach test. Coordination skills yielded significant between-group differences using the rapid stepping test but no significant differences between groups with the heel-toe transition test.
Accelerometry is an inexpensive and clinically useful technique that can distinguish between healthy older people and idiopathic frequent fallers. In conjunction with clinical procedures and commercially available tests to assess motor coordination, these techniques can identify older individuals susceptible to frequent falls.
本研究旨在确定能否基于平衡和运动协调测试，将老年特发性频繁跌倒者与健康老年人区分开来。次要目的是确定临床平衡测试分数、通过加速度计获得的平衡性能数据以及定量运动协调测试之间的关系。
两组比较设计。
大学环境中的运动控制研究实验室。
本研究招募的16名受试者包括8名健康老年受试者和8名年龄匹配的特发性跌倒者。
通过加速度计以及协调和临床测试评估每位参与者的平衡性能。通过放置在髋部和头部的1g加速度计获得加速度计分数，测试时受试者睁眼或闭眼，分别站立在地面或一块顺应性泡沫楔块上。使用罗姆伯格测试的变体和功能性伸展测试获得临床平衡分数。获得的运动协调测试包括足跟到足尖转换测试和快速步测。
除均方根外，所有加速度计变量在两组之间均获得了统计学上的显著差异。所有加速度计变量均成功区分了头部和髋部位置。此外，从加速度计数据获得的摆动幅度在四种测试条件之间存在显著差异。仅使用右腿睁眼的罗姆伯格测试显示，跌倒者与健康老年受试者之间存在显著差异。正常老年受试者的步行速度明显快于跌倒者（1.10米/秒对0.80米/秒）。使用功能性伸展测试未获得组间显著差异。协调技能在快速步测中产生了显著的组间差异，但在足跟到足尖转换测试中未产生显著的组间差异。
加速度计是一种廉价且临床实用的技术，可区分健康老年人和特发性频繁跌倒者。结合临床程序和商业可用的测试来评估运动协调，这些技术可以识别易发生频繁跌倒的老年人。
