Clinical Use of the Gaze Stabilization Test for Screening Falling Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

• DOI: 10.1097/mao.0b013e31827d8a5f
• Publication Date: 2013-01-31T13:19:22Z
• Authors: Julie A. Honaker; Choongheon Lee; Neil T. Shepard
• Keywords: Fear of falling; Falling (accident); Medical History

Objective This study examined the clinical use of computerized gaze stabilization test (GST) as a screener for falls. Design Cross-sectional, descriptive. Setting Tertiary medical center. Subjects Fifteen older community-dwelling adults with history falls and 15 controls without were recruited participation in study. Main Outcome Measures Participants performed GST yaw plane head movements. The velocity was measured compared dynamic gait index (DGI). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves area under ROC curve (AUC) identified cut points identification fallers based on DGI score. Results Our results suggested that can discriminate between individuals at risk versus those not risk. analysis an AUC 0.92 (≤100.5 degrees per second criterion value) 0.85 classifying falling When scores combined, protocol 1.0 (100% sensitivity, 100% specificity) identifying Conclusion There significant movement differences from participants classified by DGI. Therefore, may serve potential assessment measure It is recommended be used combined to accurately identify rather than isolation.