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Significance of Posture in Relation to Falls in the Elderly

Brown, Jessica D
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=auhonors1493760143595222

Abstract Details

2017, Bachelor of Science, Ashland University, Sport Sciences.
Falls are a common occurrence in the geriatric population that lead to several complications. Solutions should be sought to reduce costs and morbidity of the elderly population related to the fall epidemic. This study investigated a connection between a person’s posture and their risk for falling. A survey was created to obtain opinions of a representative geriatric population regarding posture. Fall history and information on chronic health conditions were then voluntarily reported, and fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using the occiput-to-wall distance and the Flexicurve Index, and the final element of the study was to determine the risk of falling using the Tinetti Balance Test. Data came from twenty geriatric participants aged 65 and older from skilled nursing facilities and the community of a rural northeastern area of Ohio. The postural measurements were compared to fall history, fear of falling, and fall risk. Statistical analysis was completed with IBM SPSS 24 using crosstabulations, chi-squares, and correlations. A trend was observed between posture and fall history but without a significant relationship (p = .343). There was significance displayed with an increased fear of falling and increased kyphosis (p = .025). A positive correlation was also discovered between posture and fall risk (r = 0.742, p = .001). Hypotheses of this study observed relationships between posture and fall history, fear of falling, and fall risk. There was significant support for most of the hypothesized relationships, indicating relevance of posture in the topic of falls with geriatrics. Although causation cannot be determined from this study, the relationship observed implies a suggestion to focus more on posture in its course through aging to improve the fall epidemic in the elderly.
Beth Patton, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Randall Gearhart, Ph.D. (Other)
36 p.
Aging; Anatomy and Physiology; Gerontology
fall risk; geriatrics; posture; Falls Efficacy; kyphosis; Tinetti Balance

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brown, J. D. (2017). Significance of Posture in Relation to Falls in the Elderly [Undergraduate thesis, Ashland University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=auhonors1493760143595222

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brown, Jessica. Significance of Posture in Relation to Falls in the Elderly. 2017. Ashland University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=auhonors1493760143595222.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brown, Jessica. "Significance of Posture in Relation to Falls in the Elderly." Undergraduate thesis, Ashland University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=auhonors1493760143595222

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

auhonors1493760143595222
1,996
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ashland University Honors Theses and OhioLINK.