Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach
Risk of fall (ROF) is a worldwide major concern for its prevalence and consequent dramatic outcomes in the elderly population. The growing age-related risk appears to be associated with increasing motor, sensory, and cognitive problems in the elderly population. There is a consensus on the need to s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/161 |
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| author | Michele Gallamini Giorgio Piastra Simonetta Lucarini Debora Porzio Matteo Ronchi Alessio Pirino Fabio Scoppa Stefano Masiero Lucrezia Tognolo |
| author_facet | Michele Gallamini Giorgio Piastra Simonetta Lucarini Debora Porzio Matteo Ronchi Alessio Pirino Fabio Scoppa Stefano Masiero Lucrezia Tognolo |
| author_sort | Michele Gallamini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Risk of fall (ROF) is a worldwide major concern for its prevalence and consequent dramatic outcomes in the elderly population. The growing age-related risk appears to be associated with increasing motor, sensory, and cognitive problems in the elderly population. There is a consensus on the need to screen for these balance dysfunctions, but the available methods are largely based on subjectively assessed performances. The instrumented Romberg test using a force plate represents a validated assessment process for the evaluation of balance performances. The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative instrumental method to identify balance deficits, assess their severity, and give an automated indication of the most likely etiology. The proposed new method was applied to the instrumented Romberg test, using force plate data recorded in a cohort of 551 females aged >65 participating in adapted physical activity courses. The method allowed us to identify 145 dysfunctional subjects and to determine the likely origin of their deficit: 21 central, 5 vestibular, 9 visual, 59 proprioceptive (musculoskeletal etiology), and 51 functional. Based on the preliminary findings of the study, this test could be an efficient and cost-effective mass screening tool for identifying subjects at risk of fall, since the procedure proves to be rapid, non-invasive, and apparently devoid of any contraindications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:42:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5387ef78d7d043c78de06da17b365e7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:42:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-5387ef78d7d043c78de06da17b365e7f2023-12-11T17:43:28ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-02-0111216110.3390/life11020161Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based ApproachMichele Gallamini0Giorgio Piastra1Simonetta Lucarini2Debora Porzio3Matteo Ronchi4Alessio Pirino5Fabio Scoppa6Stefano Masiero7Lucrezia Tognolo8Eng. Freelance MD Consultant, Sal. Maggiolo di Nervi, 16167 Genoa, ItalyASL 4 Liguria (Liguria Regional Health Service), Sports Medicine, N.S. di Montallegro Hospital, 16035 Rapallo, ItalyASL 4 Liguria (Liguria Regional Health Service), Geriatric Service, Chiavari, 16043 Chiavari, ItalyBen-Essere Sport and Wellness Association Rapallo, Third-Sector Liguria Region Registry, 16135 Genoa, ItalyBen-Essere Sport and Wellness Association Rapallo, Third-Sector Liguria Region Registry, 16135 Genoa, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyFaculty of Medicine and Dental Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation School, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation School, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, ItalyRisk of fall (ROF) is a worldwide major concern for its prevalence and consequent dramatic outcomes in the elderly population. The growing age-related risk appears to be associated with increasing motor, sensory, and cognitive problems in the elderly population. There is a consensus on the need to screen for these balance dysfunctions, but the available methods are largely based on subjectively assessed performances. The instrumented Romberg test using a force plate represents a validated assessment process for the evaluation of balance performances. The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative instrumental method to identify balance deficits, assess their severity, and give an automated indication of the most likely etiology. The proposed new method was applied to the instrumented Romberg test, using force plate data recorded in a cohort of 551 females aged >65 participating in adapted physical activity courses. The method allowed us to identify 145 dysfunctional subjects and to determine the likely origin of their deficit: 21 central, 5 vestibular, 9 visual, 59 proprioceptive (musculoskeletal etiology), and 51 functional. Based on the preliminary findings of the study, this test could be an efficient and cost-effective mass screening tool for identifying subjects at risk of fall, since the procedure proves to be rapid, non-invasive, and apparently devoid of any contraindications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/161risk-of-fallbalancepostural controlunperturbed upright stanceforce plateRomberg test |
| spellingShingle | Michele Gallamini Giorgio Piastra Simonetta Lucarini Debora Porzio Matteo Ronchi Alessio Pirino Fabio Scoppa Stefano Masiero Lucrezia Tognolo Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach Life risk-of-fall balance postural control unperturbed upright stance force plate Romberg test |
| title | Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach |
| title_full | Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach |
| title_short | Revisiting the Instrumented Romberg Test: Can Today’s Technology Offer a Risk-of-Fall Screening Device for Senior Citizens? An Experience-Based Approach |
| title_sort | revisiting the instrumented romberg test can today s technology offer a risk of fall screening device for senior citizens an experience based approach |
| topic | risk-of-fall balance postural control unperturbed upright stance force plate Romberg test |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/161 |
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