Further evidence for age-related deficits in human postural function

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Matheson, Anna J.^{a; b} | Darlington, Cynthia L.^a | Smith, Paul F.^b;

Affiliations: [a] Dept. of Psychology and the Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand | [b] Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand

Note: [*] Author for correspondence: Tel.: +64 3 479 7253; Fax: +64 3 479 9140; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Vestibular dysfunction can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to determine if the level of handicap reported by individuals on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), an inventory developed for use with individuals with complaints of dizziness symptoms, will be consistent with that reported on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), a tool developed for use with elderly individuals that attempts to assess a person’s confidence level in performing activities of daily living (ADL’s). A sample of convenience was used consisting of 71 subjects (15 males and 56 females) from a local Balance and Vestibular Clinic. The subjects ranged in age from 26 to 88 years of age. Both the DHI and the ABC were administered as part of an initial physical therapy evaluation to new patients at the clinic. A moderately strong negative correlation was found between the scores of the two inventories (rs=−0.6350). The results suggest that the ABC is a valid tool for use with individuals with complaints of dizziness.

Keywords: aging, vestibular system, posture

DOI: 10.3233/VES-1999-9403

Journal: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 261-264, 1999