Linear and nonlinear analysis of postural control in frailty syndrome.
Verena de Vassimon-Barroso, Aparecida Maria Catai, Marcele Stephanie De Souza Buto and 2 others
PMID 28473281WHAT IT FOUND
Sway measures did not separate frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older adults after sitting and rising.
Frail participants had more falls and longer TUG and sit-to-stand times, so the clinical findings were clearer than the lab findings.
Key findings
01Group comparisons of center-of-pressure sway measures were not significant between frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older adults.
02Frail older adults reported more falls in the last year than pre-frail and non-frail older adults: 58.33%, 33.33%, and 13.33%, respectively.
03Frail older adults took longer on the Timed Up and Go test (21.43 seconds) and the sit-to-stand movement (9.76 seconds) than non-frail older adults (11.14 seconds and 8.03 seconds).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The main center-of-pressure group comparisons were not significant, so the conclusion that frailty impaired postural control is not strongly supported by those tests. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that frailty caused the sway differences or that the sit-to-stand movement caused change over time. About 30% of screened participants were excluded, and many common balance-related conditions were excluded, so results may not apply to many older adults seen in clinics. The sample was small, with 42 participants and only 12 in the frail group, and the study did not test treatment or patient-important outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. No funding source was stated in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that frailty caused a specific sway abnormality or that sit-to-stand impaired balance. The sway group comparisons were not significant, and the study did not test whether these measures predict falls or guide treatment.