Balance, Falls, Fear of Falling, and Foot Function in Elderly People in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Authors : Raziye Şavkin, Gökhan Bayrak, Nihal Büker

Pages : 279-283

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.847281

View : 37 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2021-04-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether foot function is associated with balance, falls, fear of falls in community-dwelling older adults. Materials and Methods: A total of 47 older adults (13 women, 34 men) residing in Denizli were included.Foot functions, fear of falling and dynamic balance and fall risk were evaluated by the Foot Function Index (FFI), Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), respectively. The number of falls in the previous year was questioned. Results: The mean age was 75.34±7.81 years. According to the FFI score, mild foot pain (21.19±19.87) and activity limitation (15.34±12.20), moderate disability (32.72±26.00) were found. 76.7% of the participants had fear of falling and 57.4% had a risk of falling. There was a moderate positive correlation between FES-I and FFI-pain (r=0.538,p=0.000), FFI-disability (r=0.417,p=0.004),FFI-activity limitation (r=0.532,p=0.000). There was a weak positive correlation between TUG and FFI-pain (r=0.367,p=0.011) and FFI-disability (r=0.352,p=0.015), while a strong positive correlation in FFI-activity limitation (r=0.602,p=0.000). Conclusion: As a result of our study activity limitation and disability of daily living activities due to foot pain and foot problems may increase loss of balance, fall risk and fear of falling.Although in the short term, restriction or avoidance of physical activity due to foot problems protects the elderly against falls, in the long term it deteriorates the physical and mental health, restricts social participation, reduces the quality of life, increases the risk of future falls. Increasing the foot-health awareness and determining foot problems and taking precautions is important to eliminate all these risks.
Keywords : Foot pain, foot function, fall, fear of falling, elderly