Ibrahim MA, Ricci D, Rogers C; Physical Therapy program, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA. Mibrahim@downstate.edu.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between perceived confidence in the ability to perform certain activities that challenge balance and the actual performance of some of those activities in healthy elderly adults. BACKGROUND: The incidence of falls increases rapidly after age 65. Falls are the leading cause of injury, morbidity, fracture, pain, functional impairments, fear of falling, restriction of mobility, and death in elderly. The causes and prevention of falls are still under investigation in this population. SUBJECTS: Seventeen (5 male and 12 female) subjects participated in this study. The age range was between 65 and 90 years. METHODS: Three measures of balance were used in this study. The Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) was self administered by each participant. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was administered by one rater and the results recorded by the other rater. The Timed Up & Go (TUG) was the third test to be performed. Subjects completed one practice run and two trials. Results of the TUG were taken from the average of the two trials on the TUG. ANALYSES: A Pearson Correlation was used to determine if significant correlation (p<0.05) exists between the ABC, the BBS and/or the TUG. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation (p=0.002) was found between the BBS and the TUG. A significant correlation (p=0.046) was found between fallers (7 subjects) and scores on the TUG. No correlation was found between the scores on the ABC and the BBS. No correlation was found between the scores on the ABC and the TUG. Subjects who scored high on the TUG had a history of one or more falls in the last year. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that actual ability in elderly individuals does not necessarily affect perceived abilities when performing certain activities that challenge balance. Furthermore, no relationship has been established between the BBS and the ABC or between the TUG and the ABC. FUNDING SOURCE: none.

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