Characteristics of balance ability related to life space of older adults in a day care center

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow of participants

Table 1. Participants’ characteristics (n = 64)

Variable	n	Representative value or %
Age (years), mean±SD	64	77.6 ± 7.2
Sex
Male	23	36
Female	41	64
BMI, median (IQR)	64	22.2 (19.8–24.4)
Support/care level
Support level 1	21	33
Support level 2	16	25
Care level 1	16	25
Care level 2	9	14
Care level 3	0	0
Care level 4	2	3
Care level 5	0	0
History of fall within the previous 6 months
With fall history	15	23
Without fall history	49	77
Use situation of the walking aid
Outdoor only	23	36
Indoor and outdoor	14	22
Not use	27	42

BMI: body mass index, SD: standard deviation, IQR: interquartile range.

The seven support/care levels of the Japanese long-term care insurance system are defined as follows:

Support level 1: Requires partial assistance in the activities of daily living (estimated nursing time = 25–32 min/day).

Support level 2: A greater decline in the activities of daily living than that in support level 1, with the need of additional assistance or support (estimated nursing time = 32–50 min/day).

Care level 1: Needs partial care for daily life (Estimated nursing time = 32–50 min/day).

Care level 2: Needs a small amount of care for daily life (Estimated nursing time = 50–70 min/day).

Care level 3: Needs a moderate amount of care for daily life (estimated nursing time = 70–90 min/day).

Care level 4: Needs a large amount of care for daily life (estimated nursing time = 90–110 min/day).

Care level 5: Unable to conduct daily activities without extensive assistance (estimated nursing time>110 min/day).

Table 2. Participants’ LSA score, level of mobility/locomotion, frequency of entry into each life space, and degree of independence

Variable	n	Median, IQR (range), or %
LSA score	64	45.8, 34.0–62.8 (16–100)
Maximum accessible life space range
Life space 1 (home)	0	0
Life space 2 (outside house)	1	2
Life space 3 (neighborhood)	5	8
Life space 4 (town)	29	45
Life space 5 (unlimited)	29	45
Frequency and degree of independence
Life space 1	64	100
Daily	62	97
4–6 times/week	1	2
1–3 times/week	1	2
Less than once a week	0	0
Without assistance	48	75
With equipment	15	23
With personal assistance	1	2
Life space 2	64	100
Daily	39	61
4–6 times/week	13	20
1–3 times/week	12	19
Less than once a week	0	0
Without assistance	32	50
With equipment	22	34
With personal assistance	10	16
Life space 3	63	98
Daily	16	25
4–6 times/week	17	27
1–3 times/week	27	42
Less than once a week	3	5
Without assistance	21	33
With equipment	26	41
With personal assistance	16	25
Life space 4	58	91
Daily	9	14
4–6 times/week	10	16
1–3 times/week	35	54
Less than once a week	4	6
Without assistance	19	30
With equipment	17	27
With personal assistance	22	34
Life space 5	29	45
Daily	0	0
4–6 times/week	0	0
1–3 times/week	11	17
Less than once a week	18	28
Without assistance	9	14
With equipment	8	13
With personal assistance	12	19

LSA: Life Space Assessment, IQR: interquartile range.

Table 3. Measurement results of the Mini-BESTest, SWWT, and MFES

Variable	n	Median, IQR (range) or %
Mini-BESTest
Anticipatory postural adjustments	64	3, 2–4 (0–6)
Postural responses	64	3, 2–4 (0–6)
Sensory orientation	64	5.5, 4.3–2.3 (0–6)
Dynamic gait	64	7, 4–9 (0–10)
Total	64	19, 11–22 (2–26)
SWWT^a
Positive	18	31
Negative	40	69
MFES	64	112, 89–131 (30–140)

Mini-BESTest: Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, SWWT: Stops Walking When Talking, MFES: Modified Falls Efficacy Scale.

^aData of six participants were missing.

Table 4. Spearman correlation coefficients between the LSA score and age, BMI, the sub-item scores and total score of the Mini-BESTest, and the MFES (n = 64)

Variable	r	p-Value
Age	–0.24	0.06
Body mass index	–0.04	0.77
Mini-BESTest
Anticipatory postural adjustments	0.47	<0.001
Postural responses	0.38	0.002
Sensory orientation	0.25	0.045
Dynamic gait	0.44	<0.001
Total	0.51	<0.001
MFES	0.48	<0.001

LSA: Life Space Assessment, Mini-BESTest: Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, MFES: Modified Falls Efficacy Scale.

Table 5. Results of the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis with the LSA score as dependent variable (n = 64)

Variable	B	95% CI of B	t-Value	p-Value	β	VIF	R^2
APA	4.87	0.99–8.74	2.51	0.015	0.31	1.34
DG	2.10	0.36–3.84	2.41	0.019	0.30	1.34
(Constant)	21.59	9.39–33.79	3.54	<0.001
Model							0.28

LSA: Life Space Assessment, APA: anticipatory postural adjustments, DG: dynamic gait, CI: confidence interval, VIF: variance inflation factor.