Predictive Ability of Systems of Postural Control for 1-Year Risk of Falls and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Preliminary Study

The specific postural control systems associated with falls and frailty in older adults remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine whether postural control systems are associated with, and can predict, the presence of falls over a 1-year period and frailty after 1 year. We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 127 community-dwelling older adults. Balance was assessed using the Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and frailty was determined according to the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Data were collected at baseline and 1-year follow-up. The results suggested that lower baseline scores in anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) and gait stability were related to falls, and that a decrease of ≥2 points in gait stability assessed by the Timed Up and Go test may indicate the presence of falls. At baseline, several postural control systems—biomechanical constraints, stability limits/verticality, APA, postural responses, and gait stability—were significantly associated with frailty status after 1 year. Furthermore, 1-year declines in sensory orientation and gait stability were also significantly associated with frailty status and showed potential predictive ability for it. These preliminary findings suggest that specific systems of postural control may be differentially related to falls and frailty, supporting outcome-specific approaches to intervention.