TITLE:
Postural Balance in the Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relationship to Accidental Falls
AUTHORS:
Josélia Braz dos Santos Ferreira, Selma Petra Chaves Sá, Rosimere Ferreira Santana, Ana Maria Domingos, Juliana Peres da Costa Pereira, Luciana Krauss Rezende
KEYWORDS:
Postural Balance, Accidental Falls, Elderlies, Mild Cognitive Impairment
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation,
Vol.4 No.2,
March
25,
2016
ABSTRACT: This study analyzed postural balance in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment and its relationship to accidental falls. A quantitative and quasi-experimental method was used in a sample of 43 elderlies between 64 and 88 years old, mostly females. Data collection was performed in two Basic Health Units in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2014. The instruments used were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Tinetti scale, Motor Scale for the Elderly (EMTI) scale, and Elderly Falls Diary. The data were analyzed with the SAS statistical software version 9.3.1. The scales were applied before and after the psychomotor interventions. A significant difference was observed between the evaluating moments. Balance improvements were observed in all age groups, suggesting that all elderlies, regardless of age, showed satisfactory responses to the implemented psychomotor activities. The elderlies who fell more frequently were those between 60 and 69 years old. It is noteworthy that the age group with the lowest incidence of falls was that of elderlies between 70 and 79 years old. It was concluded that psychomotor activities are beneficial, regardless of age, proving their effectiveness when continued stimuli with cognitive and psychomotor activities are carried out.