Association of bone mineral density with postural stability and the fear of falling in Spanish postmenopausal women

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and postural stability and the fear of falling in a 50- to 65-year-old postmenopausal population. Study designA cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 118 postmenopausal women. According to their BMD values, participants were divided into two groups: BMD>−2.0SD (n=95) and ≤−2.0SD (n=23). Main outcome measuresPostural stability, assessed with a resistive multi-sensor platform, fear of falling (FoF) and the history of falls in the last 12 months were investigated. ResultsWomen with BMD≤−2.0SD reported a significantly increased FoF when compared to women with BMD>−2.0SD (P=0.024, η2=0.045, 1−β=0.624). In the postural stability analysis, the group with BMD≤−2.0SD showed, under the eyes-open condition, statistically significantly higher values for the velocity (VEO) (P=0.040, η2=0.037, 1−β=0.539) and the anteroposterior mean displacement of the center of pressure (YEO; P=0.017, η2=0.049, 1−β=0.669). No significant differences between groups were observed in the history of falls or in the rest of the stabilometric analyses. ConclusionsIn Spanish postmenopausal women under 65 years, a BMD≤−2.0SD is significantly associated with postural instability (elevated VEO and XEO) and an increased FoF, which are two highly influential factors in the risk of falling.