Comparison of balance in older people with and without visual impairment

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 643 - 649
• Main Authors: Lee, Harry K. M., Scudds, Rhonda J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.11.2003; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Balance; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Elderly people; Equilibrium (Physiology); Eyes & eyesight; Falls; Female; functional balance ability; Geriatric Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Health Status Indicators; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Mathematical Computing; Older people; Physiological aspects; Postural Balance; Risk Factors; Vision disorders; Vision Disorders - diagnosis; Vision Disorders - epidemiology; Visual Acuity; Visual impairment; Hong Kong
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afg110

Objective: a cross-sectional study was used to compare the balance ability of older people with and without visual impairment. Setting: Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex and the Pok Oi Hospital Jockey Club care and attention homes for aged individuals. Subjects: a total of 66 subjects, 65 years of age and older were divided into three groups based on their degree of visual impairment. Methods: the directional Es chart was used to test the subjects ’ visual acuity. Functional balance ability was measured using the Berg balance scale. Demographic characteristics and baseline variables such as lower extremity range of motion, muscle strength, and joint pain was assessed and compared between the groups. Results: 66 older adults (43 women, 23 men) aged 69–94 years of age participated in the study. The one-way ANOVA showed that the mean Berg balance scores were significantly different (F(2,63) = 19.19, P < 0.001). Post hoc tests showed that the group with no visual impairment had higher mean balance scores than the group with mild visual impairment (P = 0.04) and those with moderate visual impairment (P < 0.001). The balance scores for the group with mild visual impairment were also shown to be significantly difference from those of the group with moderate visual impairment (P = 0.003). Control of factors related to balance, such as range of motion, pain and strength, did not affect the analysis of variance analyses. Conclusions: balance was shown to be more impaired with greater visual impairment, which could result in falls and resultant injury. The findings suggest that early intervention to improve visual acuity in older people may be important.