Abstract
Objectives: This study explored the: i) correlations between the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and its short-versions (Mini-BESTest and Brief-BESTest), with functional ability, gait speed, physical activity, and health-related quality of life; ii) ability of the Five Times Sit to Stand (5STS), 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref) to identify the prior history of falls in community-dwelling older people. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy older people living in the community. Balance (BESTest and its short versions), functional ability (5STS), gait speed (10MWT), physical activity (BPAAT), and health-related quality of life (WHOQoL-Bref) were assessed. Spearman correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristics analysis were calculated. Results: One hundred and eighteen individuals (76[69-83.3] years; n=79, 66.9% female) participated in this study. Correlations between balance and functional ability (-0.61< r < -0.51, p<0.001), gait speed (0.69 < r < 0.78, p<0.001), physical activity (0.39 < r < 0.42, p<0.001) and health-related quality of life (0.28 < r < 0.57, p≤0.002) were identified. The following cutoff points to differentiate between prior history of falls were established: 80.5 points for the BESTest, 16.5 points for the Mini-BESTest and 12.5 points for the Brief-BESTest, 13.5s for the 5STS, 1.2m/s for the 10MWT, 1.5 points for the BPAAT and 14.5/66; 14.5/66; 14/62.5; 15.5/72 points for domains I, II, III and IV, respectively, of the WHOQoL-Bref 0-20/100. Conclusion: The BESTest and its short versions correlated with functional ability, gait speed, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in older people. These outcomes can differentiate prior history of falls in community-dwelling older people.
Highlights
Healthy aging is defined “as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that allows well-being in older people”.1 Balance plays an important role in functional ability and falls and, in the daily life of older people,[1,2,3] resulting in a potential impact on healthy aging.[3,4] associations between balance and recognized predictors of healthy aging[8] have been reported.Balance may be assessed in older people through a number of outcome tools, such as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the1
This study explored the: i) correlations between the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and its short-versions (Mini-BESTest and Brief-BESTest), with functional ability, gait speed, physical activity, and health-related quality of life; ii) ability of the Five Times Sit to Stand (5STS), 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref) to identify the prior history of falls in community-dwelling older people
This study aimed to explore the correlation between BESTest and its short versions, and functional ability, gait speed, self-reported PA and HRQoL; and to establish the ability of 5STS, 10MWT, Brief PA assessment tool (BPAAT), and WHOQoL-Bref to identify the history of falls in community-dwelling older people
Summary
Balance plays an important role in functional ability and falls and, in the daily life of older people,[1,2,3] resulting in a potential impact on healthy aging.[3,4] associations between balance and recognized predictors of healthy aging (e.g., functional ability,[5] gait speed,[6] self-reported physical activity [PA]7 and health-related quality of life [HRQoL])[8] have been reported. Balance may be assessed in older people through a number of outcome tools, such as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the. 1. Lab3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory (Lab3R), School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. 2. Institute for Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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