OPEN-EYED ONE-LEG STANDING BALANCE TIME ON INTACT LEG OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY LEG FRACTURE PATIENTS: ASSOCIATION WITH AND PREDICTOR OF LOCOMOTIVE ABILITY AND LIVING PLACE AFTER HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

Abstract

Open-eyed one-leg balance (OLB) time on the intact leg of patients aged 65+, hospitalized with leg fracture was measured once a week from start of rehabilitation until discharge to estimate association between OLB time and changes of locomotive ability and post-discharge living place. Patients were in three groups: Group A, OLB time of at least 1 s at all measurements, Group B, OLB under 1 s at first, but 1 s or more by time of discharge, and Group C, OLB under 1 s throughout hospitalization. Patients in Groups A and B showed no significant differences in gait performance or rate of returning home after discharge, but both Groups A and B had better gait ability, and significantly higher rates of home return than Group C. Better OLB time, even only for intact leg, associated significantly with better gait performance and higher home return rate. OLB training is known to increase muscle power, bone mineral density, and balance, and is recommended in the concept of "locomotive syndrome". We considered that increasing OLB time might improve gait ability and probability of returning home after hospital discharge. This could be an effective counterplan against increasing cost for nursing care of elderly people.