Evaluation of dynamic balance stability by accelerometry in clinical tests predictive of fall

• Grant number: 20/15926-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Luis Augusto Teixeira
• Grantee: Lucas da Silva Rezende
• Host Institution: Escola de Educação Física e Esporte (EEFE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The decline in dynamic postural control in aging is associated with an increased risk of falls. Two clinical tests have been shown to be important predictors of the risk of falls, assuming they are indicators of dynamic balance: the "Five Times Sit to Stand" (FTSS) and the "Timed Up and Go" (TUG). Both use the test run time as a measure of performance. Although both tests supposedly involve important components of dynamic balance, the time of execution in each one also involves other important components of strength and / or mobility. To date, there is no information in the literature on how much these tests based on runtime effectively represent indicators of dynamic balance. The objective of this project is to evaluate the correlation of movement times observed in clinical tests with a mediolateral stability measure obtained by accelerometry in healthy elderly participants. The tests evaluated will be the following: TUG and FTSS, in addition to 3 other tests with greater demand for body balance, proposed in this project, namely: dual task TUG, TUG with displacement on line, and alternate touches with one leg on two targets on the floor, while body balance is maintained with support on the contralateral leg.