Does Bmi Have A RelationshipWith Balance Scores In Adults?

Identifying possible fall risks is important, especially since the CDC reported life expectancy dropped slightly in the latest update (CDC, 2021). Body Mass Index (BMI) has been investigated as a potential indicator of fall risks in adults, even though studies on this topic are very limited (Ansen et al., 2018). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine is Center of Pressure (CoP) scores had a significant relationship with BMI scores in healthy adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional archival database of healthy subjects (n = 225; 40 males, 185 females; age 29.6 + 14.25 years; weight 171.86 + 47.02 pounds; height 66.31 + .26 inches; BMI 27.52 + .42) was selected for this investigation. Four (4) Center of Pressure (CoP) scores were analyzed from a Bertec Computerized Posturography Plate (Bertec, Columbus, OH), with the Normal Surface Eyes Open (NSEO), Normal Surface Eyes Closed (NSEC), Perturbed Surface Eyes Open (PSEO), and Perturbed Surface Eyes Closed (PSEC). Data was separated into specific groupings using the 4 dependent variables of static balance scores. RESULTS: NSEO demonstrated a significant low negative relationship with BMI (r = -0.180; p = 0.007). However, NSEC (r = -0.065; p = 0.33), PSEO (r = -0.021; p = .70), and PSEC (r = 0.075; p = .25) did not have a significant relationship with Body Mass Index. CONCLUSIONS: This novel investigation was unique where a specific clinical static balance assessment was used to observe relationships of adult BMI and static balance compared to past studies that used field tests. BMI had a low but significant negative relationship to Normal Surface Eyes Open CoP scores in adults.