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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the performance of balance and walking tests in relation to self-reported fall history in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).Methods: Twenty-two (13 male) participants with DM1 completed, a 6-month fall history questionnaire, the modified Dynamic Gait Index (mDGI), limits of stability (LoS) testing, and 10-m walking tests.Results: Mean (SD) falls in 6 months was 3.7 (3.1), and 19 (86%) participants reported at least 1 fall. Significant differences in mDGI scores (P = 0.006) and 10-m fast walking gait velocity (P = 0.02) were found between those who had been classified as "fallers" and those who had been classified as "nonfallers." Significant correlations were found between mDGI scores and 10-m walking time.Discussion: Falls are common in DM1, and the mDGI may have potential to distinguish fallers from nonfallers, whereas the LoS failed to detect such impairment. Future studies should further explore use of the mDGI in DM1. Muscle Nerve 58: 694-699, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Cognitive dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy ( MHE) is associated with falls. Alterations in postural control and stability could contribute to increase falls risk in these patients. We aimed to assess whether postural control and direction-specific limits of stability are altered in cirrhotic patients with MHE compared to patients without MHE and controls. We also assessed if alterations in postural control correlate with neurological impairment and/or blood biomarkers. Methods Posturography analysis, attention Stroop test and bimanual and visuo-motor coordination tests were performed in 18 controls, 19 patients with cirrhosis without MHE and 17 with MHE, diagnosed by PHES. Posturography was assessed by Ned SVE®/ IBV system under four sensory conditions. Limits of stability and rhythmic weight-shifting tests were also performed. Blood ammonia and serum interleukins were also measured. Falls were assessed after 12-24 months follow-up. Results MHE patients show impaired balance, mainly on unstable surface with eyes open, with longer reaction and confinement times and lower success in Limits of Stability test compared to patients without MHE. Performance in attention and motor coordination tests correlated with most posturography parameters alterations. Logistic regression analysis shows that posturography parameters and bimanual coordination test are good predictors of falls. Conclusion Balance patterns and limits of stability in MHE patients are impaired compared to patients without MHE and controls. This seems to contribute to a higher falls risk. Attention and motor coordination deficits could contribute to balance impairment in patients with MHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Denervation of the paraspinal muscles may impair posture and displace the center of gravity. Therefore, we assessed balance impairment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with and without paraspinal denervation.Methods: Thirty-two women with LSS (15 symptomatic, 17 asymptomatic), aged 42-78 years, were assessed for disability, pain, and mobility, and underwent masked mini-paraspinal mapping (mPSM). Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and device-assisted balance (DAB) tests were used for balance assessment.Results: The symptomatic group had worse balance and higher mPSM scores than the asymptomatic group. Among DAB tests, limit of stability (LOS) had the highest correlations with BBS and mPSM in the symptomatic group.Conclusions: Paraspinal denervation correlated highly with static and dynamic balance in symptomatic patients. We recommend paraspinal mapping, balance assessment, rehabilitation, and follow-up with the LOS test for symptomatic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Falling is the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older adults, and a loss of balance is often the precursor to a fall. However, little is known about the rate at which balance declines with age. The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an age-associated decline in static ( SB) and/or dynamic ( DB) balance in community-dwelling older women. Method SB and DB were determined in 971 older women. Intraclass correlation coefficients ( ICC) were used to determine test-retest reliability. Sway velocity was used to measure SB standing on a platform and foam with eyes open and closed. DB was characterized by limits of stability ( LOS) that measured end-point excursion ( EXE) and maximum excursion ( MXE) of the body's center of pressure. Results ICC for EXE and MXE for the LOS test were excellent ( EPE = 0.96, MXE = 0.96). ICC for SB tests, except for the eyes open firm surface condition ( ICC = 0.10), showed a high level of reproducibility ( ICC = 0.88 and 0.90). Relationships existed between age and SB ( r = 0.31, P < 0.001), and between age and DB ( r = −0.46-−0.48, P < 0.001). The rate of decline for both DB and SB was approximately 1% per year. Age was significantly associated with all balance measures. DB got significantly lower with advancing age until 80 years, and then plateaued. SB did not decline with age until 80 years, and then decreased significantly thereafter. Conclusion Although large individual variation was found with balance ability, an age-related decline was found with both dynamic and static balance for Japanese older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 556-560. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]