Selected Tools for Assessing the Risk of Falls in Older Women

Abstract

Background and Aim. This study is aimed at comparing the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and a modified Unterberger test with stabilographic parameters (Biodex Balance System—BBS), to assess fall risk (FR) in older women. Methods. Fifty-five females were examined (May 2018-June 2019). Stabilographic examinations were performed with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman rank correlation were performed to determine the relationships and differences between the above tests. Results. The results of the TUG correlate with the overall stability index (OSI) EO ( $r=0.314$ ), medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) EO ( $r=0.297$ ), and fall risk index (FRI6-2; $r=0.435$ ) in stabilographic examinations and the FRT ( $r=-0.399$ ). The results of the modified Unterberger test correlate with MLSI EO ( $r=0.276$ ), OSI EC ( $r=0.310$ ), and MLSI EC ( $r=0.378$ ). There are statistically significant differences between faller and nonfaller groups in TUG ( $p=0.0068$ ), FRT ( $p=0.001$ ), and MLSI EO ( $p=0.0118$ ). Conclusions. The modified Unterberger test and TUG can be considered effective in functional FR assessment in older women. Using at least two different functional tests may improve the assessment of FR.