Article

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between balance confidence, a concept
closely related to fear of falling, mobility and balance performance, and
perceived mobility limitation in older people after a fall-related hip fracture.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional analyses of pretrial data of 2 randomized controlled
trials of physical rehabilitation. SETTING: University research center.
PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling people aged over 60 years, 6 weeks to 7.5 years
after a fall-related hip fracture (N=130). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was the self-reported Activities-specific
Balance Confidence (ABC) scale score. Assessments also included perceived ability
to walk outdoors or climb 1 flight of stairs, and assessments of self-preferred
walking speed, modified Timed-Up-and-Go test, and Berg Balance Scale. RESULTS:
Higher ABC scale scores were related to better mobility and balance performance
(rho>.47) and perceived mobility function (rho>.54). In univariate general linear
models, all associations also remained significant after adjustment for age, sex,
time since fracture, number of chronic diseases, and either level of physical
activity or muscle strength of the fractured leg. An ABC scale score <85 points
identified those with mobility and balance limitation across measures.
CONCLUSIONS: In people who have had a fall-related hip fracture, an independent
relationship exists between balance confidence and mobility and balance
performance as well as perceived mobility function. Since lack of balance
confidence may compromise rehabilitation and recovery, the ABC scale may help to
identify older hip fracture patients with mobility and balance limitation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS