Outcome measures correlated with falls in nursing home residents-A pilot study.

Outcome measures correlated with falls in nursing home residents-A pilot study.
Physiother Theory Pract. 2017 Jul 17;:1-8
Authors: Moyer HS, Gale J, Severe S, Braden HJ, Hasson S
Abstract
Most fall risk and normal values are collected from the community-dwelling population, which is not representative of nursing home residents. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine the relationship of clinical impairment and activity limitation variables to the number of falls in nursing home residents; and 2) to determine the amount of variability that can be explained for the number of falls from these predictor variables. Seventeen active nursing home residents (83.7 ± 11.7 years) consented to participate. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), lower extremity handheld dynamometry, ankle plantar flexion (PF)/dorsiflexion (DF) active range of motion (AROM), hand grip strength, gait speed (GS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and 5 Times Sit-to-Stand (5TSTS) were recorded in a single visit. Regression analysis was performed to identify the better clinical outcome tool to determine falls. This was followed by a stepwise multiple regression model to predict the criterion variable-number of falls. Of the clinical impairment measures collected, significant correlations with past falls include the following: right DF AROM (-0.436; p = 0.040) and right DF strength (-0.504; p = 0.023). Of the activity limitation measures collected, significant cor...

Source: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice - July 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Moyer HS, Gale J, Severe S, Braden HJ, Hasson S Tags: Physiother Theory Pract Source Type: research