Evaluation of dynamic balance among community-dwelling older adult fallers: A generalizability study of the limits of stability test

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 468 - 474
• Main Authors: Clark, Sean, Rose, Debra J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Balance; Biological and medical sciences; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Elderly; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Postural Balance - physiology; Rehabilitation; Reproducibility of Results; Sensation Disorders - physiopathology; Rehabilitation; Accidental falls; Balance; Elderly; Human; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Daily living; Personal injury; ENT disease; Activity; Fall; Vestibular syndrome; Orthostatic equilibrium
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1053/apmr.2001.21859

To establish reliability estimates of the 75% Limits of Stability® Test (75% LOS test) when administered to community-dwelling older adults with a history of falls. Generalizability theory was used to estimate both the relative contribution of identified error sources to the total measurement error and generalizability coefficients. A random effects repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess consistency of LOS test movement variables across both days and targets. A motor control research laboratory in a university setting. Fifty community-dwelling older adults with 2 or more falls in the previous year. Spatial and temporal measures of dynamic balance derived from the 75% LOS test included average movement velocity, maximum center of gravity (COG) excursion, end-point COG excursion, and directional control. Estimated generalizability coefficients for 2 testing days ranged from .58 to .87. Total variance in LOS test measures attributable to inconsistencies in day-to-day test performance (Day and Subject × Day facets) ranged from 2.5% to 8.4%. The ANOVA results indicated that no significant differences were observed in the LOS test variables across the 2 testing days. The 75% LOS test administered to older adult fallers on 2 consecutive days provides consistent and reliable measures of dynamic balance.