Avaliação do equilíbrio postural em idosas com baixa densidade mineral óssea: caidoras e não caidoras.

Abstract

Aging is associated with the decline of physiological functions. In this process, the human skeleton is especially affected by time: bone loss begins as early as the third decade of life. Performance in postural balance tests was evaluated in elderly women who were fallers and non-fallers with low bone mineral density and, secondarily, those afraid of falling had lower performance in balance tests. Sixty-two elderly women aged ≥ 60 years were evaluated, divided into two groups: fallers and non-fallers. The volunteers were evaluated using two postural balance tests: the miniBESTest (test with 14 tasks that assesses balance according to postural responses to external disturbances and verticality); and the NeuroCom Balance Master force platform, in the protocols of the Going Up and Going Down Steps and Sit and Stand Tests. There were no differences in the miniBESTest or in the NeuroCom Balance Master tests between groups. In addition, there were no differences between elderly women with and without fear of falls, in the same variables studied. Elderly people, regardless of being fallers, did not differ in the performance of the postural balance tests, nor in terms of the presence or absence of fear of falling. Keywords : Elderly; Osteoporosis; Falls; Postural balance.