Association between unipedal support balance measures and Berg Balance Scale in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Body balance is a complex process that depends on the integration between vision, proprioception, vestibular system, and neuromuscular responses. An age-related decline in function can be evidenced in all neurophysiological aspects that control and adjust balance, resulting in an increased likelihood of falls. Among the tests applied to assess balance and the risk of falls, the Berg Balance Scale is considered the gold standard, however other tools have been proposed, such as the Unipedal Support Test, being low cost and easy to apply. Objective: To identify whether there is an association between balance measures obtained through the adapted Unipedal Support Test and Berg Balance Scale in the elderly. Methods: A non-probabilistic, convenience sample of 39 participants (≥60 years, female) was evaluated in this cross-sectional observational study. The 14 tasks that make up the Berg Balance Scale were applied following the instrument's recommendations. The number of foot strikes on the ground during the 60s of the Adapted Unipedal Support Test was computed. Spearman's correlation (rho) was used to estimate the association between the variables, assuming an alpha of 5%. Results: There was a negative and weak correlation (rho = - 0.316 p<0.05) between the scores obtained in the Berg Balance Scale and the amount of touches on the ground during 60 seconds of the Adapted Unipedal Support Test. A positive and weak correlation was obtained between Unipedal Support Test and body mass index (rho=0.294 p<0.05) and between Berg Balance Scale and body mass index a negative and weak correlation (rho= - 0.293 p<0.05). Between Unipedal Support Test and age, a positive and moderate correlation was obtained (rho= 0.697 p<0.05) and a negative and moderate correlation was verified for Berg Balance Scale and age (rho= - 0.545 p<0.05). Conclusion: The performance in the Adapted Unipedal Support Test is negatively related to the scores obtained in the Berg Balance Scale. It is suggested that the greater the number of touches to the ground during the unipodal stance test, the lower the Berg Balance Scale score. Thus, the Adapted Unipedal Support Test can also be used as a potential indicator of risk of falls in an elderly population.