Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Jun;41(3):339-346. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.339.

Prediction of Post-stroke Falls by Quantitative Assessment of Balance

• Lee HH
• Jung SH

• KMID: 2389448
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.3.339

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate characteristics of the postural instability in patients with stroke and to present a prediction model of post-stroke falls.
METHODS
Patients with a first-ever stroke who had been evaluated by the Balance Master (BM) at post-stroke 3 months (±1 month) between August 2011 and December 2015 were enrolled. Parameters for the postural instability, such as the weight bearing asymmetry (WBA) and postural sway velocity (PSV), were obtained. The fall events in daily lives were assessed via structured telephone interview with a fall related questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 71 patients (45 men; 45 with ischemic stroke) were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent BM evaluation at 3.03±0.40 months after stroke. The mean WBA was 17.18%±13.10% and mean PSV (measured as °/s) were noted as 0.66±0.37 (eyes-open on firm surface), 0.89±0.75 (eyes-closed on firm surface), 1.45±1.09 (eyes-open on soft surface), and 3.10±1.76 (eyes-closed on soft surface). A prediction model of post-stroke falls was drawn by multiple logistic regression analysis as follows: Risk of post-stroke falls = -2.848 + 1.878 x (PSV(ECSS)) + 0.154 x (age=1 if age≥65; age=0 if age<65).
CONCLUSION
The weight bearing asymmetry and postural sway were significantly increased in patients with stroke. Older age and impaired postural control increased the risk of post-stroke falls.

Keyword

Accidental falls; Stroke; Prediction; Postural balance; Weight-bearing

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls*
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Logistic Models
Male
Postural Balance
Stroke
Weight-Bearing

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The receiver operating characteristics curve of postural sway velocity for post-stroke falls, under condition of eyes closed on soft surface. The cut-off value was 5.30°/s, with a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 85.3%. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.822.

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