[Home postural evaluation in the elderly: comparison between fallers and non fallers].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the main clinical and posturographic factors correlated with falls in elderly individuals and to specify the role of static posturography in this appraisal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 38 people living in an residential center who were autonomously ambulatory and had a Mini Mental Test score> or =24. Fallers (N = 15) had fallen within 1 month, and nonfallers (N = 23) had not fallen for at least a year. Assessment consisted of a series of questions, a complete clinical appraisal, specific independently validated tests, and static posturographic analysis different parameters of the stabilogram with the eyes first open and then closed, all carried out in the center.

RESULTS: From the clinical standpoint, spinal pathologic features and the scores on the Functional Reach Test were significantly different between the fallers and nonfallers. In static posturography, fallers' equilibrium was more precarious than that of nonfallers with eyes are closed: significant differences were observed in surface, X length and overall fast Fourier transform score. The comparison between results with open and closed eyes showed that the fallers had a pronounced tendency to retropulsion in the absence of visual participation: a significant difference as regards overall length, Y length, minimum Y and FFT Y (0.5-2 Hz).

CONCLUSIONS: To complement a satisfactorily conducted clinical examination, static posturography allows for rapid assessment of equilibrium and posture in elderly patients who fall? Performed at the place where an individual resides, this appraisal constitutes an original and pragmatic element. As an evaluation strategy, it can reveal nonnegligible information within the framework of an appraisal of such, and thereby allows for adjustment of the rehabilitation or compensatory strategy.