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Introduction: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between fear of falling, knee joint proprioception, and physical activity level in elderly with the Fullerton Advanced Balance test.
Method: This study was a correlational research and 57 healthy elderly men were selected through available sampling method in Rasht city in 2016. Data has been gathered by using Fullerton Advanced Balance test (FAB) for measuring balance, a Beack questionnaire for measuring physical activity level, Questionnaire falling efficiency and Scale-International (FES-I) for measuring the fear of falling. Maximum isometric force muscle group in lower limb was measured by using Hand Dynamometer device, and muscle range of motion and knee-joint proprioception by using electro-goniometer device. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics by SPSS version 16 software.
Results: Results revealed a negative meaningful correlation between fear of falling and error of knee joint proprioception using Fullerton Advanced Balance test (P≤ 0.001). Moreover, the findings presented a positive, meaningful correlation between physical activity level, hamstring muscular power and Quadriceps muscle, Knee flexion and extension range of motion, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion of ankle by using Fullerton Advanced Balance test (P≤0.001).
Conclusion: Fullerton Advanced Balance test is a favorable clinical instrument which bears a high correlation with the factors of imbalance such as fear of falling, proprioception, muscular power, and range of motion. Nevertheless, more study and research is required to investigate the relationship between the psychoanalytical characteristics of Fullerton Advanced Balance scale and the effective variables in the balance and falling of the elderly.

 

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Introduction: Depression is a common chronic disease among the elderly. Depression would lead to decreased quality of life, disturbance in activity of daily living and personal, social and family roles. One of the factors that might prevent the occurrence of depression is tea consumption. Considering the controversial results of foreign studies and lack of national studies in this regard, the present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between tea consumption and depression among the elderly.

Method: This case-control study was conducted in 2016 on 260 elderly who referred to health centers of the Saghez city. Samples were selected using cluster random method. Using the Geriatric Depression Scale and confirmation of the psychiatrist, samples were divided into two groups (depressed and not depressed) and were adjusted regarding their age, gender, educational level and body mass index. Then the amount of consumed tea for each participant was recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software 18 and through descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the participants’ age were 69.8 ± 6.35 years. Findings showed that 64.2% of the participants (169) consumed less than three cups of tea per day. A significant relationship was revealed between tea consumption and depression; this means that 1.5% of the depressed participants and 33.5% of the not-depressed participants were consuming at least 3 cups of tea every day. The risk of depression was 66% lower among those who consumed at least 3 cups of tea every day than those who consumed less than 3 cups of tea per day (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.267-0.437, OR = 0.341).

Conclusions: The present study revealed a probable relationship between depression and tea consumption among the elderly. Considering the high prevalence of depression among the elderly, preventive interventions, such as consuming at least 3 cups of tea every day, is recommended.

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Introduction: One of the consequences of aging is disturbance in maintaining balance that cause impairment and disability in elderyʼs functional activities and falls. All these cases increases the importance of preventing falls in the elderly.

Methods: This study is a semi experimental research with pretest-posttest plan, in which 30 male and female elderly between 70 and 79 years were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group did balance training with ground ladders balance (6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, each session 45 minutes). The control group also began to practice the only way to go. The control group only did walking exercise. Before and after 6 weeks of training, balance wae assessed with Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) tests and Assessment of postural sway. Paired t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data, SPSS statistical package was used for all analyzes. In this study, significance level equal was considered to 95% and level of alpha was considered less than or equal to 0/05.

Results: The results showed significant difference in obtained scores in the, Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I)and the size and distance of the center of pressure area range with open and closed eyes between pretest and posttest in the experimental group, (0/05≥ p).But results showed no significant for both variables in the control group (0/05

Conclusion: This study showed that exercise with ground ladders reduce can improve postural control and decrease the risk of falls in the elderly. Therefore it can be used to reduce risk of falls.

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Introduction: Falling phenomenon is one of the prevalent and serious problems among the elderly that brings about disability and reduction in quality of life for them. Investigating the causes of the fall and identifying the elderly who are at risk of falling, with the aim of reducing and preventing collapse, are deemed integral issues. Hence, this study investigates the role of muscle strength and range of motion of the lower extremity affective in the elderly's fall.
Method: In this study, a systemic search was conducted through the electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, MAGIRAN, IRANDOC, and SID. Necessary searches through the articles published from 1984 to August 2017 for English and Persian keywords were carried out. The English keywords sought included elderly, older adult, geriatric, aging, lower extremity range of motion, fall, gait, and lower extremity muscle strength; the Persian ones included the elderly, lower extremity range of motion, lower limb muscle strength, balance, walking, and slipping. After the initial screening performed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, the articles published in English and Persian, in terms of the current subject, were investigated.
Results: Forty-three articles were selected, and they examined the role of lower extremity muscles and joints in the case of fall by the elderly using the following methods:  1. Age-related weakening of muscle strength and lower extremity range of motion; 2. The correlation between muscle strength as well as range of motion and balance and walking abilities in the elderly; 3. Comparison of muscle strength and range of motion in the elderly (with a background of falling or lack of such a background) and those in the youth; 4. The effect of certain muscles and joints of the lower extremities on the elderly’s balance, fall, and walking.
Conclusion: Based on the above findings and results, it appears that as aging grows interaction of muscle strength and lower extremity range of motion with power balance increases. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that measuring muscle strength and lower extremity range of motion is of great value in terms of the assessment of balance disorders and functional skills in the elderly.



 

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Introduction: Assessment of the general health  of the elderly is of utmost importance to determine their physical and psychological problems. This study aimed to measure general health status was conducted in Sabzevar , 2016.
Method: This study was discriptive-analytic is based on elderly oer 60 years of age without cognitive problems in sabzevar. The data collected through a questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic and public health -28 GHQ . The data were analyzed via descriptive statistics , One- way onava and independent T-test by using SPSS software (Ver.19).
  Results: The findings suggest that the cutoff point of 23 to CHQ-28, just 60 percent of seniors in Sabzevar good general health condition was good. Bivariate tests showed that general health, sex, education, marital status and their co-existence of a significant relationship is (001/0> P).
 Conclusion: According to the results of this study, a large percentage of elderly people in Sabzevar not good general health, the General  health status of the elderly in the city, is of particular importance.
 

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Introduction: To compare the effects of the traditional Otago exercise program and a modified version (Otago with core stability exercises) on the quality of life in elderly women.
Methods: 30 elderly women were divided into three groups: a modified Otago group, a traditional Otago group, and a control group. The exercise programs lasted 8 weeks, with 3 sessions per week. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire.
Results: The modified Otago exercise program led to significantly better improvements in all eight dimensions of quality of life (P < 0/05) compared to the traditional Otago program and the control group.
Conclusions: Incorporating core stability exercises into the Otago program can enhance its positive impact on the quality of life of elderly women.