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Does patient environment have any influence on balance?

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Abstract

Background

Although patient environment is a factor to consider when planning a vestibular rehabilitation program, there are no studies correlating this factor to outcomes of balance assessment.

Aim

To evaluate whether there are differences in objective evaluation of balance in elderly patients at risk of falls according to the environment in which they live (urban or rural) and their lifestyle (considering cardiovascular risk factors).

Methods

Cross-sectional study of a sample of 139 elderly patients with high risk of falls assessed with objective outcome measures: Computer Dynamic Posturography (CDP), and the modified Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test; and subjective outcome measures: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (short FES-I). Rural or urban environment was defined according to administrative and legal criteria.

Results

Elderly patients at risk of fall living in rural environment show better composite results in SOT with better scores in Condition 6 and fewer falls during the CDP. They also require fewer steps to perform the TUG test.

Discussion

The present study provides evidence that patient environment has an influence in balance.

Conclusion

Patient environment should be considered when analyze tests evaluating static and dynamic balance.

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Funding

Funding was received from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI 11/01328, integrated into the State Plan for R+D+I 2008–2011).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorhinolaryngology Department, Carmen y Severo Ochoa Hospital, Sienra 11, 33819, Cangas del Narcea, Asturias, Spain

    Virginia Franco-Gutiérrez

  2. Otorhinolaryngology Department, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Galicia, Spain

    Marcos Rossi-Izquierdo

  3. Cardiology Department, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Galicia, Spain

    Raul Franco-Gutiérrez

  4. Otorhinolaryngology Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

    Sofía Santos-Pérez, Ana Faraldo-García, María del Río-Valeiras, Isabel Vaamonde-Sánchez-Andrade, Antonio Lirola-Delgado & Andrés Soto-Varela

  5. Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialities, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

    Sofía Santos-Pérez & Andrés Soto-Varela

Authors
  1. Virginia Franco-Gutiérrez
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  2. Marcos Rossi-Izquierdo
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  3. Raul Franco-Gutiérrez
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  4. Sofía Santos-Pérez
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  5. Ana Faraldo-García
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  6. María del Río-Valeiras
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  7. Isabel Vaamonde-Sánchez-Andrade
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  8. Antonio Lirola-Delgado
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  9. Andrés Soto-Varela
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Virginia Franco-Gutiérrez.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethical aspects

The study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki, with and all patients providing written informed consent to participate in it. The study was approved by the Regional Committee on Research Ethics.

Financial disclosure

No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

Statement of human and animal rights

The study was performed according to the protocol approved by the Independent Ethics Committee of Galicia (Protocol 2010/139).

Informed consent

Signed informed consent was obtained from all the participants.

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Franco-Gutiérrez, V., Rossi-Izquierdo, M., Franco-Gutiérrez, R. et al. Does patient environment have any influence on balance?. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 645–653 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01247-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01247-x

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