Falling History and Locomotion Level of Nursing Home Residents and Day-Care Users from the Perspective of the Berg Balance Scale

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the relationship among Berg Balance Scale, the fall history for the past one year, and locomotion level for 22 nursing home residents and 23 day-care users. There were no significant differences in total score of the Berg Balance Scale, fall history and locomotion level between nursing home residents and day-care users. However the fall risk of the nursing home residents was about 13% higher than that of day-care users when total scores of the Berg Balance Scale were converted to fall risk. Furthermore, there were significant differences in two items of the Berg Balance Scale, turning trunk and stool stepping, between the two groups. It is considered that dynamic balance ability influenced these results and the distinguishing characteristics of the two groups. Although the total score of the Berg Balance Scale did not correlate with fall history in either group, the total of the Berg Balance Scale correlated with locomotion level. This indicates that it is impossible for the total of the Berg Balance Scale to predict fall, but the total of the Berg Balance Scale may predict the level of locomotion to some degree.