Fall risk in an active elderly population – can it be assessed?

BACKGROUND: Falls amongst elderly people are often associated with fractures. Training of balance and physical performance can reduce fall risk; however, it remains a challenge to identify individuals at increased risk of falling to whom this training should be offered. It is believed that fall risk can be assessed by testing balance performance. In this study a test battery of physiological parameters related to balance and falls was designed to address fall risk in a community dwelling elderly population. RESULTS: Ninety-four elderly males and females between 70 and 80 years of age were included in a one year follow-up study. A fall incidence of 15% was reported. The test battery scores were not different between the fallers and non-fallers. Test scores were, however, related to self-reported health. In spite of inclusion of dynamic tests, the test battery had low fall prediction rates, with a sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 43% respectively. CONCLUSION: Individuals with poor balance were identified but falls were not predicted by this test battery. Physiological balance characteristics can apparently not be used in isolation as adequate indicators of fall risk in this population of community dwelling elderly. Falling is a complex phenomenon of multifactorial origin. The crucial factor in relation to fall risk is the redundancy of balance capacity against the balance demands of the individuals levels of fall-risky lifestyle and behavior. This calls for an approach to fall risk assessment in which the physiological performance is evaluated in relation to the activity profile of the individual

Tipo físico ideal e satisfação com a imagem corporal de praticantes de caminhada Tipo físico ideal y satisfaccion con la imagen corporal de los praticantes de caminata Ideal physical type and body image satisfaction of regular walkers

O objetivo do presente estudo foi quantificar o tipo físico ideal e verificar o nível de insatisfação com a imagem corporal de praticantes de caminhada. Participaram do estudo 186 pessoas: 87 mulheres (idade = 28,70 ± 12,6 anos, estatura = 161,6 ± 6,2cm, massa corporal = 58,9 ± 12,0kg e gordura = 25,7 ± 7,8 G%) e 98 homens (idade = 27,9 ± 12,9 anos, estatura = 177,2 ± 6,9cm, massa corporal = 75,0 ± 12,3kg e gordura = 13,3 ± 6,1 G%). Solicitou-se que as pessoas indicassem qual silhueta correspondia ao seu corpo atualmente e qual gostariam de atingir. Apenas 24% das mulheres estão satisfeitas. A silhueta 3 foi apontada como ideal a ser atingido por 55% das mulheres (silhueta 2 = 18%; e 4 = 21%). A silhueta 3, de acordo com os resultados desse estudo, corresponde ao G% 20,5 ± 0,9% (EPM) e ao IMC de 20,0 ± 0,3kg/m² (EPM). Quanto aos homens, apenas 18% estão satisfeitos. A silhueta 4 foi apontada como ideal por 47% dos homens (silhueta 3 = 23%; e 5 = 19%). A silhueta 4 corresponde ao G% 9,8 ± 1,4% (EPM) e ao IMC de 23,1 ± 0,4kg/m² (EPM). Existe um tipo físico ideal para ambos os sexos. Não houve diferença entre o grau de insatisfação com a imagem corporal entre os sexos.<br>El objetivo del presente estudio fué cuantificar el tipo físico ideal y verificar el nivel de insatisfacción con la imagen corporal de praticantes de caminata. Participaron del estudio 186 personas: 87 mujeres (edades = 28,70 ± 12,6 años, estatura = 161,6 ± 6,2 cm, masa corporal = 58,9 ± 12,0 kg y gordura = 25,7 ± 7,8 G%) y 98 hombres (edades = 27.9 ± 12,9 años, estatura = 177,2 ± 6,9 cm, masa corporal = 75,0 ± 12,3 kg y gordura = 13,3 ± 6,1 G%). Se solicitó que las personas indicasen cual era la silueta que correspondía a su cuerpo actualmente e cual guastarian de tener. Apenas 24% de las mujeres están satisfechas. La silueta 3 fué designada como ideal a ser presentada por el 55 % de las mujeres (silueta 2 = 18%; y 4 = 21%). La silueta 3, de acuerdo con los resultados de este estudio, corresponde al G% 20,5 ± 0,9% (EPM) y al IMC de 20,0 ± 0,3 kg/m² (EPM). En cuanto a los hombres, apenas el 18% están satisfechos. La silueta 4 fué apuntada como ideal por el 47% de los hombres (silueta 3 = 23%; y 5 = 19 %). La silueta 4 corresponde al G% 9,8 ± 1,4% (EPM) y al IMC de 23,1 ± 0,4 kg/m² (EPM). Existe un tipo físico ideal para ambos sexos. No hubo diferencia entre el grado de insatisfación con la imagen corporal entre los sexos.<br>The objective of the present study was to quantify the ideal physical type and to verify the body image satisfaction level of regular walkers. One hundred and eighty six individuals participated in this study as follows: 87 women (age = 28.70 ± 12.6 years, stature = 161.6 ± 6.2 cm, body mass = 58.9 ± 12.0 kg and fat = 25.7 ± 7.8 F%) and 98 men (age = 27.9 ± 12.9 years, stature = 177.2 ± 6.9 cm, body mass = 75.0 ± 12.3 kg and fat = 13.3 ± 6.1 F%). The individuals were asked to indicate which profile corresponded to his/her body and which profile they wanted to reach. Only 24% of women are satisfied. Profile 3 was pointed as ideal to be reached by 55% of women (profile 2 = 18%; and profile 4 = 21%). Profile 3, according to results of this study, corresponded to F% of 20.5 ± 0.9% (EPM) and to MBI of 20.0 ± 0.3 kg/m² (EPM). In relation to men, only 18% are satisfied. Profile 4 was pointed as ideal by 46% of men (profile 3 = 23%; and profile 5 = 19%). Profile 4 corresponds to F% of 9.8 ± 1.4% (EPM) and to BMI of 23.1 ± 0.4 kg/m² (EPM). There is an ideal physical type for both genders. No difference with body image satisfaction degree between genders was verified