Research article
Does osteoporosis predispose falls? a study on obstacle avoidance and balance confidence
1 Sint Maartenskliniek, Research, Development and Education, P.O. box 9011, 6500 GM, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
2 Sint Maartenskliniek, Department of Rheumatology, P.O. box 9011, 6500 GM, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
3 Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Rheumatology, P.O. box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
4 Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
5 Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen Centre for Evidence Based Practice, Department of Rehabilitation, P.O. box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2011, 12:1 doi:10.1186/1471-2474-12-1
Published: 3 January 2011Abstract
Background
Osteoporosis is associated with changes in balance and physical performance and has psychosocial consequences which increase the risk of falling. Most falls occur during walking; therefore an efficient obstacle avoidance performance might contribute to a reduction in fall risk. Since it was shown that persons with osteoporosis are unstable during obstacle crossing it was hypothesized that they more frequently hit obstacles, specifically under challenging conditions.
The aim of the study was to investigate whether obstacle avoidance ability was affected in persons with osteoporosis compared to a comparison group of a community sample of older adults.
Methods
Obstacle avoidance performance was measured on a treadmill and compared between persons with osteoporosis (n = 85) and the comparison group (n = 99). The obstacle was released at different available response times (ART) to create different levels of difficulty by increasing time pressure. Furthermore, balance confidence, measured with the short ABC-questionnaire, was compared between the groups.
Results
No differences were found between the groups in success rates on the obstacle avoidance task (p = 0.173). Furthermore, the persons with osteoporosis had similar levels of balance confidence as the comparison group (p = 0.091). The level of balance confidence was not associated with the performance on the obstacle avoidance task (p = 0.145).
Conclusion
Obstacle avoidance abilities were not impaired in persons with osteoporosis and they did not experience less balance confidence than the comparison group. These findings imply that persons with osteoporosis do not have an additional risk of falling because of poorer obstacle avoidance abilities.
