One-Leg Standing and Y-Balance Test Performance in Elderly Fallers and Nonfallers

Abstract

Background: Falls are one of the severe causes of injury and death in older adults. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the 1-leg standing time and Y-balance test score between older adults with and without a history of falls, and to examine the association between 1-leg standing and Y-balance test performance in older adults. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Twelve older adults who had fallen in the past year and 27 who had not experienced falls participated. One-leg standing and Y-balance tests were used to assess balance. Results: There were no significant differences in 1-leg standing time or Y-balance test distance and percentage scores between fallers and nonfallers. One-leg standing showed a fair correlation with Y-balance test in excursion distance of posterolateral reach and scores of the posteromedial and posterolateral reach. Conclusions: One-leg standing and Y-balance tests are useful and easy-to-apply tools for assessing balance, and a significant correlation between performance on the 2 tests was demonstrated in the older adults in this study. However, additional evaluation with 1-leg standing and Y-balance test may be needed to identify differences in balance and fall risk between older fallers and nonfallers.