Static and Dynamic Balance Under Dual-Task Conditions in Older Adults With Fall History

Research shows that dual-task balance performance deficits serve as indicators which help predict future falls among elderly people. The research investigated how fallers (people who experienced two or more falls per year) performed compared to non-fallers during single and dual-task balance assessments. The research involved 24 community-dwelling participants between 65 and 80 years old who completed Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) tests while performing serial-7 subtraction.The study results showed that fallers made more BESS errors (M=18.4±4.2 vs. 11.2±3.1) and their dual-task TUG times were longer (M=14.8±2.1s vs. 11.2±1.5s) than non-fallers. The dual-task performance of fallers showed a significant decline of 25.4% compared to non-fallers who experienced a 12.1% decline (F(1,22)=8.92, p=.007, η²=.29).The research findings indicate that fallers experience more significant cognitive-motor interference which supports dual-process models. The research supports the need for motor-cognitive screening and training programs to prevent falls.