Overestimation of Balance Ability Among Older Adults at Risk for Falls

I always failed one leg balance portion of the Berg Balance Scale, mainly for the inability to stand on my affected leg. My therapist NEVER gave me any exercises or interventions  to fix that. I had zero perturbations during therapy, now I get dozens on my daily walks and that is the reason my balance is so good right now. PERTURBATIONS! And yes, I still fall at times but it's usually pulling branches out of the path or cutting logs that have fallen down.

I fail at all these tests too, so I guess I should see a doctor or therapist that will do nothing useful to get me to pass these tests.

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My balance confidence is extremely high considering all the times I haven't fallen when a challenging perturbation was encountered. 

The latest here:

Overestimation of Balance Ability Among Older Adults at Risk for Falls

Edmund C. Ickert, PT, DPT, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8002-1279 ecickert@ysu.edu, Tiffany Hughes, PhD, MPH, […], and Lucy Kerns, PhD+2View all authors and affiliations

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https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643231186630

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Abstract

Objective: 

 

This study examined alignment of subjective balance confidence with Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) fall risk.  

 

Methods: 

 

Cross-sectional analysis of 155 community-dwelling adults (60 + y/o) from 2016 to 2018 who completed a STEADI fall assessment. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square analysis, and biserial point correlations were applied.  

 

Results: 

 

Adults who overestimate balance confidence, 55.6% (n = 50) reported a fall in the past year, 62.2% (n = 56) were worried about falling, 48.9% (n = 44) felt unsteady when standing/walking, and 70.0% (n = 63) had a score of ≥4 on the Stay Independent Questionnaire (SIQ). Physical performance for these adults were mean TUG score 10.9s (SD = 3.4), mean 30 second chair stands 10.8 (SD = 3.5), and mean 4-stage balance score 3.1 (SD = .76).  

 

Discussion: 

 

Older adults are more likely to overestimate their subjective balance confidence. Individuals are equally likely to have reported a fall in the past year if they were “at fall risk,” regardless of their subjective balance confidence.

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