BALANCE IMPAIRMENTS OF GERIATRIC POPULATION OF PLAIN AND HILLY AREA

Received: 19.08.2021; Revised: 28.09.2021, Accepted: 21.10.2021, Published Online: 03.11.2021

Bushra Sultana

Assistant Professor, Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Isra University Islamabad.

Asima Irshad

Assistant Professor, Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Isra University Islamabad.

Habiba Aslam

Assistant Professor, Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Isra University Islamabad.

Abeera Hussain

Lecturer, Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Isra University Islamabad.

Sonia Munir

Assistant Professor, Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Isra University Islamabad.

Anam Aftab

Assistant Professor, Ziauddin University College of Rehabilitation Science, Karachi.

Dr. Noor Muhammad Marwat

Department of Sport Sciences and Physical Education Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (KP) Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

Balance is the integral part of postural stability and crucial for performing the functional activities. Balance impairments leads to the restriction in mobility in geriatric population. There are certain variations regarding the balance stability in population of different geographic areas.

The present study was conducted to compare the balance impairments among geriatric population of hilly and plain terrain. The comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted on (n=204) population of 60 years or above from hilly area (Abbottabad) and Plain area (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) through nonprobability convenient sampling technique. Berg balance scale, Romberg test and time Up and Go test questionnaires were used along with demographic proforma to check balance and mobility. Data was analyzed in SPSS 17. The frequency tables and cross tabulation were plotted between different variable. The t independent test was used to compare the balance impairment between hilly and plan areas. The result shows that the mean score of berg balance scale (dynamic balance) was 44.07±9.95 and 44.64±7.86 with (p>0.05) of hilly and plain participants respectively. There is no statistically significant difference in dynamic balance of both groups. The mean and standard deviation of time up & go test (mobility assessment) of hilly area was 13.29±7.12 and for plain area 14.41 ±6.41 and the (p>0.05) show no significant difference in outcome of both groups. n rank of Romberg test in geriatric population of hilly area is  67.19 and plain geriatric population is 107.81. The P value calculated of Romberg test shows statistically insignificant value (P>0.05). The populations of both plain and hilly area have same levels of balance and mobility.

Key words: Balance problems, Geriatric population, Hilly area and Plain area,