EXPLORING GAIT, BALANCE PERFORMANCE AND FEAR OF FALLING AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS OF THAILAND

Authors

  • Pummarak S College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
  • Samrongtong R College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
  • Ramesh Kumar Health Services Academy Islamabad Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v7i3.66

Keywords:

Gait and balance, fall risk perception, fear of falling and elderly population

Abstract

Background: Previous evidence indicates that older people allocate more of their attentional resources toward their gait and that the attention-related changes that occur during aging increase the risk of falls.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Banna District and Ongkarak District, Nakornnayok Province, Thailand. One hundred elderly people participated in this study. Gait was assessed by a Time Up and Go Test (TUGT) while the One legged stance test (OLST) assessed balance performance. The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) measured fear of falling of the elderly people. A WHOQOL-BREF instrument assessed the quality of Life among elderly people.
Results: The findings revealed that 58% of the participants were female, aged between 60-74 years (mean = 66.39, SD 3.65). Over a 12 month period, 57% of participants had experienced a fall once, 41% had experienced 2 falls while 2% had experienced 3 or more falls. One-third of the elderly people who participated in the study had a fear of falling. Almost all of the elderly participants (76%) had a moderate fall risk perception score. The mean score of total quality of life was moderate (80.43).
Conclusion: Study concluded that the elderly people face a valid risk of falling based on prevalent risk factors that results in a fear of falling. An assessment of fall risk factors are important in establishing a fall prevention program for the elderly faced with fall risk factor from fear of falling and. Assessment fall risk factors are important to provide the suitable falls prevention program for the elderly.

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How to Cite

EXPLORING GAIT, BALANCE PERFORMANCE AND FEAR OF FALLING AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS OF THAILAND. (2018). Pakistan Journal of Public Health, 7(3), 142-145. https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v7i3.66