The usefulness of functional gait reserve and the life space assessment scorein the prediction of falls

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the functional gait reserve and life space assessment (LSA) score in the prediction of falls. [Subjects] The subjects were 36 elderly women participating in a second preventive project. [Methods] Assessment tools for measurement were selected based on motor function, coefficient of variation of stride time (STcv), motor function, movement ability, balance, and the modified falls efficacy scale and LSA scores. In univariate analysis, stride time variability was found to be significantly greater for fallers than for non-fallers. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine factors of falls. The cut-off value and the area under the curve were determined from the receiver operating characteristic curve. [Results] Significant differences were observed between the falls group and no-falls group in STcv, functional gait reserve, and LSA scores. Functional gait reserve was not recognized as fall assessment tool, but a correlation between functional gait reserve and the LSA score was found. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that functional gait reserve is not a useful assessment tool for predicting falls. However, functional gait reserve used together with the LSA score, could possibly be used as a supplementary measure of motor function.