BALANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE CONTROL IN THE ELDERLY AFTER HOME CONFINEMENT DUE TO COVID-19: BEHAVIORAL AND BIOMECHANIC IMPLICATIONS ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHYSICAL REHABILITATION

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of balance and quality of life by classifying elderly people with low, moderate or high concern about falling after home confinement. Method: 100 elderly people of both sexes aged between 60 and 80 years took part. They were assessed for balance control using the Modified Clinical Test for Sensory Integration in Balance (mCTSIB) on Neurocom's VSRTM Sport platform, where body sway and the three balance systems were measured. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess quality of life. As a secondary outcome, concern about falling was quantified using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES). One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test was used to verify the effect of concern about falling between the three groups on balance and quality of life variables. Results: Of the 100 elderly people, 33 showed low, 47 moderate and 20 high levels of concern about falling. Significant differences were observed in the quality of life scores related to the level of concern about falling, with a 10-point distinction between high, moderate and low concern, although the difference between moderate and low concern, of only 2 points, did not show a significant discrepancy. There were no significant changes in balance between the three groups. Conclusion: After home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the elderly with high concern about falling had impaired quality of life, however, balance control, regardless of the level of concern about falls, was not affected during this period.