POSTURAL BALANCE AND SELF-REPORTED FUNCTIONAL ABILITY IN 75-YEAR-OLD MEN AND WOMEN - A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARATIVE-STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To study postural balance in relation to self-reported func tional ability (mobility and ADL) and general physical activity in eld erly men and women living in three different Nordic environments. PART ICIPANTS: A random sample of 448 men and 556 women from among the 75-y ear-old residents in Glostrup, Denmark, and Goteborg, Sweden, and all the residents of relevant age (127 men and 261 women) in Jyvaskyla, Fi nland. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of postural balance with eyes open and closed using a piezoelectric force platform, A structured interview o n self-reported functional ability and physical activity. An in-labora tory medical examination. RESULTS: In spite of some differences in bal ance between the groups studied (better results in women compared with men and, to some extent, better results in the participants from Denm ark and Finland than in those from Sweden), the performance in the bal ance tests was similarly associated with functional ability within all groups. The subjects reporting no need of help in performing the ADL and mobility functions performed significantly better in the balance t ests. These differences were seen more clearly in the control of anter oposterior movement of center of forces than in the mediolateral direc tion. The performance in the balance tests was also significantly bett er among the subjects reporting a higher level of general physical act ivity than in their less active counterparts. Physical activity and ce rtain long standing illnesses modified significantly the relationship between postural balance and ADL-performance. When these factors were analyzed simultaneously, the role of balance as a predictor of ADL-per formance largely disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that go od balance is one of the prerequisites of performance without difficul ty in mobility and ADL functions. Physical exercise may help to mainta in balancing abilities in old age; good balance, in turn, may also ena ble a physically active way of life. The associations of balance with functional ability and physical activity were independent of sex and l ocality. The results also support the validity of static stabilometry as a tool for evaluating threats to functional limitations in older su bjects.