Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study

Background: Falls are common in the elderly and frequently have serious consequences, which lead to physical and psychological complications. Assessment of fall risk in the elderly is performed by using functional assessment tools that assess the muscle strength, balance, functional mobility, and ga...

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Main Authors: Varatharajan Sakthivadivel, Jeganathan Geetha, Archana Gaur, Ariyanachi Kaliappan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=11;spage=7294;epage=7298;aulast=Sakthivadivel
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author Varatharajan Sakthivadivel
Jeganathan Geetha
Archana Gaur
Ariyanachi Kaliappan
author_facet Varatharajan Sakthivadivel
Jeganathan Geetha
Archana Gaur
Ariyanachi Kaliappan
author_sort Varatharajan Sakthivadivel
collection DOAJ
description Background: Falls are common in the elderly and frequently have serious consequences, which lead to physical and psychological complications. Assessment of fall risk in the elderly is performed by using functional assessment tools that assess the muscle strength, balance, functional mobility, and gait. Timed Up and Go test (TUG) assesses functional mobility and the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test (POMA) assesses balance, postural control, and gait. Aim: This study compares the TUG test and POMA test in fall prediction among elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with acute illness, acute painful lower limb conditions, dementia, severe depression, and those who are not willing were excluded from the study. Patient demographic data, co-morbidities, habits, and risk factors such as a previous history of falls, arthritis, depression, and vision impairment were noted. Gait and balance were assessed by the TUG and POMA tests. TUG and POMA were compared with the patients with a history of falls. Results: The mean age of participants was 70.79 ± 5.38 years. The females (57.6%) were more than the males. Hypertension was the commonest co-morbidity (54.4%). Out of 340 subjects, 105 subjects had a history of falls. The sensitivity of the TUG and POMA tests was 76.2 and 69.5%, respectively, and the specificity was 91.1 and 89.8%, respectively. The Kappa values were 0.680 and 0.606, respectively. POMA (r = –0.372) was negatively correlated to falls and TUG (r = 0.642) was positively correlated to falls. Conclusion: TUG is a useful measure for determining the risk of falling in older persons.
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spelling doaj.art-03641a6e4824432aa2376fc8f7d4dd562023-01-12T12:42:33ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632022-01-0111117294729810.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1294_22Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional studyVaratharajan SakthivadivelJeganathan GeethaArchana GaurAriyanachi KaliappanBackground: Falls are common in the elderly and frequently have serious consequences, which lead to physical and psychological complications. Assessment of fall risk in the elderly is performed by using functional assessment tools that assess the muscle strength, balance, functional mobility, and gait. Timed Up and Go test (TUG) assesses functional mobility and the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test (POMA) assesses balance, postural control, and gait. Aim: This study compares the TUG test and POMA test in fall prediction among elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with acute illness, acute painful lower limb conditions, dementia, severe depression, and those who are not willing were excluded from the study. Patient demographic data, co-morbidities, habits, and risk factors such as a previous history of falls, arthritis, depression, and vision impairment were noted. Gait and balance were assessed by the TUG and POMA tests. TUG and POMA were compared with the patients with a history of falls. Results: The mean age of participants was 70.79 ± 5.38 years. The females (57.6%) were more than the males. Hypertension was the commonest co-morbidity (54.4%). Out of 340 subjects, 105 subjects had a history of falls. The sensitivity of the TUG and POMA tests was 76.2 and 69.5%, respectively, and the specificity was 91.1 and 89.8%, respectively. The Kappa values were 0.680 and 0.606, respectively. POMA (r = –0.372) was negatively correlated to falls and TUG (r = 0.642) was positively correlated to falls. Conclusion: TUG is a useful measure for determining the risk of falling in older persons.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=11;spage=7294;epage=7298;aulast=Sakthivadivelelderlyfallspomatug
spellingShingle Varatharajan Sakthivadivel
Jeganathan Geetha
Archana Gaur
Ariyanachi Kaliappan
Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
elderly
falls
poma
tug
title Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
title_full Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
title_short Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test and Timed Up and Go test as predictors of falls in the elderly – A cross-sectional study
title_sort performance oriented mobility assessment test and timed up and go test as predictors of falls in the elderly a cross sectional study
topic elderly
falls
poma
tug
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=11;spage=7294;epage=7298;aulast=Sakthivadivel
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AT archanagaur performanceorientedmobilityassessmenttestandtimedupandgotestaspredictorsoffallsintheelderlyacrosssectionalstudy
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