Application of the voluntary step execution test to identify elderly fallers

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the use of the Voluntary Step Execution Test to identify fallers.

Design: Cross-sectional retrospective.

Setting: Two self-care, residential facilities.

Participants: a total of 100 healthy old volunteers (mean age = 78.4 +/- 5.7).

Measurements: The study investigated the use of the Voluntary Step Execution Test to identify fallers under single and dual-task conditions. Berg Balance Test (BBS) and Timed Get Up and Go (TUG) were used to assess balance and gait function.

Results: There were no significant differences found between fallers and non-fallers in BBS and TUG (50.5 +/- 4.6 versus 52.5 +/- 3.4 and 9.4 +/- 3.4 versus 7.98 +/- 2.3 respectively). There were no statistically significant differences between non-fallers and fallers across all step execution parameters under the single-task condition. However, adding cognitive load to the Voluntary Step Execution Test revealed statistically significant increases in duration of the preparatory phase, swing time and the time to foot-contact (P = 0.035;P = 0.033 and P = 0.037, respectively). Based on the coefficients of the logistic regression model participants with dual-task step execution times of > or =1,100 ms had five times the risk of falling than participants with execution times of <1,100 ms.

Conclusions: The study provides evidence that a simple, safe measure of step execution under dual-task conditions can identify elderly individuals at risk for falls.