Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the standing postural control test using the Elderly Balance Board type N could be used to predict an elderly person's risk of falling. Subjects were 45 elderly persons average aged 81.2 (SD; 6.4). At the baseline investigation of this study, we assessed the Elderly Balance Board type N test, Berg Balance Test, walking speed and Timed Up and Go Test. One year after the baseline investigation, we asked subjects about falls during the follow up period. The Elderly Balance Board type N test was classified into four categories based on the duration of standing times on the Balance Board (less than 30 sec or more) and the height of the Balance Board. In the univariate analysis, the Elderly Balance Board type N test differed significantly according to the fall status. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that, the lower categories of the Elderly Balance Board type N test subjects showed, the higher the risk of falls became. Our results suggested that standing postural control test using the Elderly Balance Board type N may be a simple and easy-to-use clinical measure of functional balance level and useful for preventing recurrent falls.
