A neuromuscular test battery for osteoporotic women - A pilot study

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a short neuromuscular test battery in elderly women suffering from osteoporosis in accordance with the World Hea lth Organization criteria, with and without a history of fractures. Reduced bone mass and a high likelihood of falling increase the risk of osteoporot ic fractures. There is a need for neuromuscular tests to identify individua ls at risk for falls and fractures. Design: The women were assessed twice. Forty-two women, with a mean age of 70.0 +/- 5.1 (SD) yr, completed the first assessment. The number of postmen opausal fractures and the women's history with regard to agility and falls were assessed. The women performed neuromuscular tests tone-leg stance, tan dem walk, and body sway); bone mineral density of the spine and femoral nec k were measured. For the follow-up assessment, 13.2 +/- 1.3 mo later, 39 wo men were studied. The same outcome measurements were obtained at both evalu ations. Results: During the observation period, five women fell once and one woman fell twice; there were only two vertebral fractures and no nonvertebral fra cture. Neuromuscular performance did not change during this observation per iod. The median changes in bone mineral density between the two assessments were clinically not relevant. A comparison between patients suffering from established osteoporosis and osteoporotic patients without a history of po stmenopausal fractures showed that both groups of patients did not differ w ith respect to age, neuromuscular performance, bone mineral density, and fe ar of falling. Conclusion: This neuromuscular test battery is a feasible and practical too l because it is brief and economical to perform. However, its efficacy as a predictor of fractures must be tested in additional studies with a long-te rm follow-up and a larger group of subjects.