Resumen de Postural balance and body mass index in older adults; a descriptive and associative study testing traditional risk factors

Cristián Alejandro Caparrós Manosalva, G.N. Marzuca Nassr, Carmen Luz Muñoz Mendoza, Jéssica Andrea Espinoza Araneda, Valeria Paz Bravo Carrasco, Javier Muñoz, Cristian Álvarez

• español

  Introducción: Existe escaza información acerca de cómo los parámetros del balance postural, como el área y velocidad media del centro de presión (CoP), pueden ser modificados por marcadores tradicionales de adiposidad en personas mayores. Objetivos: Describir y asociar parámetros del balance postural en personas mayores con diferente IMC. Un segundo objetivo fue asociar el área de balance con el peso. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo con personas mayores chilenas (Edad; 70 ± 1.0, IMC 29,0 ± 0,4 kg/m2) fueron categorizadas en un grupo normopeso o control (CG, n = 7, IMC; 23,1 ± 0,5), sobrepeso (OvW, n = 41, IMC; 27,6 ± 0,2) y obesidad (Ob, n = 23, IMC; 34,2 ± 0,5). Los sujetos fueron evaluados en una superficie estable/dura [HS]/ e inestable o blanda [SS], y bajo ojos abiertos [OE]/y cerrados [CE]. Fueron variables secundarias el peso, talla, IMC y la salud funcional. Test univariado y regresión lineal fueron aplicados. Resultados: La velocidad media del CoP en HS con CE, mostró diferencias significativas entre los grupos CG vs OvW (24.9 ± 7.4 mm/s vs 12,1 ± 0,97 mm/s, p < 0,0001). Existieron diferencias significativas entre el Índice de Romberg entre CG vs OvW (176,7 ± 132,4% vs 121,3 ± 7,1%, p = 0,002) y entre CG vs Ob group (176,7 ± 16,4% vs. 129,4 ± 17,2%, p = 0,005). En SS con OE, existieron diferencias significativas entre CG vs OvW (29,8 ± 4,8 mm/s vs 18,6 ± 1,2 mm/s, p < 0,003), y sobre SS, con CE, entre CG vs OvW (41,5 ± 31,2 mm/s vs 24,6 ± 15,2 mm/s, p = 0,015). Conclusiones: A un elevado IMC, como en condiciones de sobrepeso u obesidad, personas mayores muestran una reducida velocidad media CoP en relación a sus pares normopeso, siendo el peso un factor de adiposidad tradicional predictor del balance.

• English

  Background: There is a scarcity of information about how much the postural balance parameters, as the area and mean velocity of the center of pressure (CoP), can be modified by traditionally adiposity markers in older adults. Objectives: To describe and associate postural balance parameters in Chilean older adults with different BMI. A second objective was to associate the area of balance with weight. Methods: In a descriptive study, Chilean older adults (mean age; 70 ± 1.0, BMI 29.0 ± 0.4 kg/m2) were categorized by a normoweight control group (CG, n = 7, BMI; 23.1 ± 0.5), overweight (OvW, n = 41, BMI; 27.6 ± 0.2), and obesity (Ob, n = 23, BMI; 34.2 ± 0.5). The subjects were evaluated on a stable/hard [HS]/soft [SS] surface, and under open [OE]/ closed [CE] eyes. Secondary outcomes were weight, height, BMI, and functional health. Univariate test and linear regression were applied. Results: CoP mean velocity on the HS and CE, showed significant differences between CG vs. OvW groups (24.9 ± 7.4 mm/s vs. 12.1 ± 0.97 mm/s, p < 0.0001). There were significant differences in Romberg index between CG vs. OvW group (176.7 ± 16.4% vs. 132.4 ± 7.1%, p = 0.002), and between CG vs. Ob group (176.7 ± 16.4% vs. 129.4 ± 17.2%, p = 0.005). On the SS with OE, there were significant differences between CG vs. OvW groups (29.8 ± 4.8 mm/s vs. 18.6 ± 1.2 mm/s, p < 0.003), and, on the SS, with CE, between CG vs. OvW groups (41.5 ± 31.2 mm/s vs. 24.6 ± 15.2 mm/s, p = 0.015). Conclusions: At higher BMI such as at overweight or obesity conditions, older adults show a reduced ‘CoP mean velocity’ than control normoweight peers’, being ‘weight’ a traditional adiposity risk factor predictor of balance performance.