Comparison of Trunk Kinematics, Fear of Falling, and Physical Performance Between Fallers and Non-fallers Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

A BSTRACT Background: One of the primary causes of falls in the elderly population is poor physical performance, along with impaired balance. Since the quality of bodily movements affects overall human functioning, highlighting the importance of analyzing kinematic parameters when planning rehabilitation programs, several outcome measures, such as the Fall Efficacy Scale – International (FES-I), Timed-Up and Go (TUG), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), have been employed in clinical settings to screen for falls in the geriatric population, but there is a paucity of literature exploring the kinematic analysis of the trunk to assess fall risk. Aim of the Study: The present study aimed to assess the kinematics of trunk flexion-extension during a single sit-to-stand test using smartphone-based sensors, assess fear of falls using fall-related outcome measures, and compare these parameters between faller and non-faller older adults aged 60 years and above. Methods and Materials: In the present study, 30 older adults were grouped as non-fallers (n = 15) and fallers (n = 15), and both groups were assessed for fear of falling and the risk of falling using the FES-I, TUG, and SPPB. The kinematics of trunk flexion and extension were assessed by a smartphone-based accelerometer and gyroscope using the Sensor Kinetic Pro app during a 10-m walk test. Settings and Design: The present study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted in an institute-based rehabilitation center, and approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) was obtained before the commencement of the study. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 for Windows (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The data were tested for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed for all variables, and an independent t -test was used for TUG. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference in FES-I ( P = 0.002), TUG ( P = 0.002), and SPPB ( P = 0.019) between fallers and non-fallers. Conclusion: The present study concludes that the comparison of fear of falling using outcome measures such as FES-I, TUG, and SPPB between fallers and non-fallers among older adults aged 60 years and above is useful in assessing fear of falling and predicting future risk of falls among older adults.