COMPARISON OF A FUNCTIONAL OBSTACLE COURSE WITH AN INDEX OF CLINICAL GAIT AND BALANCE AND POSTURAL SWAY

Background, Older adults commonly experience falls because of balance and mobility problems. Better assessment methods are needed to underst and and correct balance and mobility disorders. Methods. We used a low technology, functional obstacle course (FOC) to measure balance and m obility in 352 community-dwelling elderly participants. To establish c oncurrent validity of the FOG, we compared performance on the FOC with two established measures of balance and mobility: performance on the Tinetti Index (TI) and postural sway area measured on a force platform . Results. Bivariate correlation analyses revealed significant inverse correlations between FOC completion time, the TI balance and gait sub scores, and the TI total score (r = -.73 to -.78). The FOC quality sco res and TI balance and subscores gait and TI total scores (r = .76 to .82) were significantly positively correlated. FOC time had significan t, but small, positive correlations with sway area with eyes open (r = .18) and closed (r = .17) and nonsignificant correlation with sway ar ea with visual feedback. FOC quality also had significant, but smaller , inverse correlations with sway area with eyes open (r = .024) and cl osed (r = -.015), and nonsignificant correlation with sway area with v isual feedback. Regression analysis showed that TI gait and balance me asures accounted for most of the variance found in FOC performance. Co nclusions. Our findings support the position that the FOC and the TI m easure dynamic balance, whereas postural sway measures a different asp ect of balance. Advantages of the FOC include the evaluation of enviro nmentally influenced falls and balance problems.