Functional assessment of body balance in elderly institutionalized and noninstitutionalized

• Grant number: 11/23235-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu
• Grantee: Patricia Molnar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aging process affects the quality of human life impairing the sensory and motor functions, increasing the postural instability and the number of falls. In the institutionalized elderly postural deficits are more severe due to physical and psychological factors. However, it remains unclear the relation between the psycho-social factors (community x institutionalization) with the balance disabilities. Thus, this study proposes to assess physical aspects, such as balance and gait, psychological aspects (geriatric depression scale), and the routine of patients among elderly community residents and institutionalized residents to understand better the real factors involved in the decline observed in these populations respectively. Method: 15 elderly community residents and 15 institutionalized residents will be evaluated. The various systems involved in postural control will be assessed through scales: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Brazilian SROS Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire - BOMFAQ, Functional Balance scale of Berg, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment of Gait and Balance (Poma) of Tinetti and Timed Up and Go (Tug) Test. Expected Results Increase the knowledge about the influence of bio-psycho-social aspects on the decline of gait and postural control of elderly community residents and institutionalize as well as identify the appropriate scales to be applied in each group to identify the deficits and allow the appropriate therapeutic treatments to avoid falls.(AU)