Sensitivity of a clinical scale of balance and gait in frail nursing home residents

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to describe this application. and to assess the sensitivity of the application when evaluating clinical interve ntions for Improving balance and gait. Methods: The records of fifteen consecutive patients referred to physical t herapy for mobility problems or recent falls were reviewed for this study. The subjects were evaluated upon initial referral to physical therapy and a fter 30 days of treatment. Treatment was developed around the problems note d on initial evaluation and applied 5 days/week for 30 sessions. Results: A Wilcoxon signed-rank comparison of the initial and 30 day re-eva luation of the balance and the gait assessment Indicated that significant I mprovement had occurred in the balance scores (Z = -3.20. p = 0.001) and th e gait scores (Z = -2.82. p = 0.005) in this group. Conclusion: These assessments are sensitive to clinical improvements In mob ility among frail elders.