COMPARISON OF PLANTAR SENSITIVITY, POSTURAL SWAY AND FEAR OF FALL IN OLDERS WITH AND WITHOUT FALLING STORY

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate differences between olders with and without falling story in terms of plantar sensitivity, postural sway and fear of fall.

Methods: Fourty subjects consisting of 21 women and 19 men, and over 65 years of age included in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups as with (n=14) and without falling story (n=26). Plantar light touch-tactile and static two point discrimination sensitivity were measured; anteroposterior and mediolateral deviation quantity and speed of the center of mass (COM) were recorded by WinTrack® Pedobarograph under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Fear of fall were evaluated by Falls Efficacy Scale.

Results: There were no significant differences between olders with and without falling story in terms of plantar sensitivity and postural sway parameters (p>0.05); fear of fall was higher in olders with falling story according to those without falling story (p=0.007).

Discussion: More than 33% of individuals over 65 years fall more than once a year and fear of falling causes decreased quality of life by limiting outdoor activities. There are studies showing that tactile sensory loss in first toe and first metatarsophalangeal joint and increase in postural sway are related to falls. Our study found no difference between olders with and without falling story in terms of plantar sensitivity and postural sway, but higher fear of falling in those with falling story. Reducing fear of falling should take place among treatment targets for reducing the risk of falls in olders.

Keywords

• Older,fall,plantar sensitivity,postural sway

Düşme Öyküsü Olan ve Olmayan Yaşlılarda Plantar Duyu, Postural Salınım ve Düşme Korkusunun Karşılaştırılması

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, düşme öyküsü olan ve olmayan yaşlılar arasında plantar duyu, postural salınım, düşme korkusu açısından fark olup olmadığını araştırmaktır.

Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 21 kadın, 19 erkek olmak üzere 65 yaş üstü 40 birey dahil edildi. Bireyler düşme öyküsü olanlar (n=14) ve olmayanlar (n=26) olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Olguların plantar hafif dokunma-basınç ve statik iki nokta ayrımı duyuları ölçüldü; vücut kütle merkezinin (centre of mass-COM) anteroposterior ve mediolateral yönlerdeki salınım miktar ve hızları, WinTrack® Pedobarografi cihazı ile statik ayakta duruşta, gözler açık ve kapalı olarak kaydedildi. Düşme korkusu ise Düşme Etkinlik Ölçeği ile değerlendirildi.

Sonuçlar: Ölçülen plantar duyu ve postural salınım parametreleri açısından düşme öyküsü olan ve olmayan yaşlılar arasında anlamlı bir fark olmadığı (p>0,05), düşme korkusunun ise düşme öyküsü olan yaşlılarda olmayanlara göre yüksek olduğu (p=0,007) bulundu.

Tartışma: 65 yaş üstü bireylerin %33'ünden fazlasının yılda en az bir kez düştüğü ve düşme korkusunun ev dışı aktiviteleri limitleyerek yaşam kalitesinde azalmaya neden olduğu bilinmektedir. Literatürde, birinci parmak ve birinci metatarsofalangeal eklemdeki taktil duyu kaybının ve postural salınımdaki artışın düşmelerle ilişkili olduğunu gösteren çalışmalar bulunmaktadır. Bizim çalışmamız, düşme öyküsü olan ve olmayan yaşlılar arasında plantar duyu ve postural salınım açısından fark olmadığını ancak, düşme korkusunun düşme öyküsü olanlarda daha yüksek olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır. Yaşlı bireylerde düşme riskinin azaltılmasına dönük tedavi hedefleri arasında düşme korkusunun azaltılması da yer almalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Yaşlı,düşme,plantar duyu,postural salınım

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