Assessment of the Risk of Falls Related to Imbalance among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Referred to the MS Society of Tehran 2014
Advances in Nursing & Midwifery,
Vol. 25 No. 90 (2016),
8 October 2016
,
Page 1-8
Abstract
Introduction:
Balance impairment in multiple sclerosis patients was found to be associated with an increased risk of falls. The aim of
this study was to determine the risk of falls among multiple sclerosis patients who have referred to the MS Society of
Tehran 2014.
Materials and Methods:
This was a prospective cohort study. 199 multiple sclerosis patients were selected by convenient method. The data
collection tools were Tinetti performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA), demographic and self-reported fall
questionnaire. The patients were divided into three groups based on POMA scores. The face and content validity of
tools was determined. The reliability of POMA was obtained by inter-rater method (0.95). The Cronbach's alpha for
researcher-made questionnaire was 0.97. The data were analyzed by using Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Results:
There was a negative relationship between the occurrence of falls with the balance and gait scores among MS patients
(p<0.001). The MS patients, who gain a lower balance point, had more fall events. According to the score rating sum of
POMA, most multiple sclerosis patients had high and average score ratings. Also, all three balance motor ability and
gait scores, the total balance and gait score had a significant relationship with MS patients’ fall events (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
In the present study, most of patient with multiple sclerosis had higher and average scores of gait and balance. POMA
is a quick and easy test for identifying, classifying, and predicting the risk of falls among multiple sclerosis patients.
Keywords:
Falls, Imbalance, Multiple Sclerosis.
- Falls
- Imbalance
- Multiple Sclerosis.
How to Cite
References
-Arian R, Shaterzadeh Yazdi M, Sharaf Aldinzadeh N, Gouharpey S and Arastou A (2010)
[Investigation of body balance in people with multiple sclerosis in Khouzestan province: use of
clinical functional balance tests]. Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal. 9 (1) 35-43. (Persian)
-Cameron M H and Nilsagård Y E (2013) Measurement and treatment of imbalance and fall risk in
multiple sclerosis using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
model. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 24 (2) 337-354 .
-Cattaneo D, De Nuzzo C, Fascia T, Macalli M, Pisoni I and Cardini R (2002) Risks of falls in
subjects with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 83 (6) 864-7 .
Dusti F, Frughi-pur M, Sohrabi M, Taheri H r, Saeidi M and Tymuri S (2013) [Effect of
instructions for internal and far and near external focus of attention on balance of multiple
sclerosis patients]. Medical Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. 56 (1) 15-20.
(Persian)
-Finlayson M L, Peterson E W and Cho C C (2006) Risk factors for falling among people aged 45
to 90 years with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 87 (9)
-1279 .
-Fox R J, Bethoux F, Goldman M D and Cohen J A (2006) Multiple sclerosis: advances in
understanding, diagnosing, and treating the underlying disease. Cleveland Clinic Journal of
Medicine. 73 (1) 91.
-Frzovic D, Morris M E and Vowels L (2000) Clinical tests of standing balance: performance of
persons with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 81 (2) 215-
-Ghasemi E, Shayegannejad V, Ashtari F and Chitsaz A (2012) [The effectiveness of Frenkel’s and
Swiss ball exercises on improved balance and decreased depression in patients with multiple
sclerosis: a comparative study]. Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences. 7 (3) 277-83.
(Persian)
-Hanley A, Silke C and Murphy J (2011) Community-based health efforts for the prevention of
falls in the elderly. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 6 19-25.
-Izadi S, Nikseresht A, Sharifian M, Sahraian M A, Jahromi A H, Aghighi M and Heidary A
(2014) Significant increase in the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Iran in 2011. Iranian Journal
of Medical Sciences. 39 (2) 152-3.
-Matsuda P N, Shumway-Cook A, Bamer A M, Johnson S L, Amtmann D and Kraft G H (2011)
Falls in multiple sclerosis. PM &R The Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation. 3 (7)
-632.
-Mehdizadeh Mollabashi L, Safavy Bayat Z, Yagmaey F and Mehraby Y (2011) [The effect of
balanced exercises on balance level of elderly in nursing homes]. Journal of Urmia Nursing and
Midwifery Faculty. 9 (4) 283-8 (Persian)
-Nejati V, Izadi-najafabadi S, Shoja O, Javadi M and Rezaee F (2013) [Cognitive and General
Health Status in Elderly With and Without History of Falling]. Iranian Journal of Ageing. 8 (1)
-15. (Persian)
-Rumrill Jr P D (2009) Multiple sclerosis: Medical and psychosocial aspects, etiology, incidence,
and prevalence. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 31 (2) 75-82.
-Safavi Bayat Z and Zorriasatain F (2008) [Determining risk factors associated with falling among
elderly at residential care facilities in Tehran]. The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical
Sciences. 11 (4) 66-70. (Persian)
-Salarvand S and Birjandi M (2009) [Factors related to falling down in older adults]. Iran Journal
of Nursing. 22 (61) 51-60. (Persian)
-Thompson J.A and Baneke.P. Atlas of MS 2013: mapping multiple sclerosis around the world,
World Health Organization and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, [on line] Avaliable
at: < http://www.msif.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Atlas-of-MS.pdf˃ [Accessded 15
December 2015].
-Tinetti M E (1986) Performance‐oriented assessment of mobility problems in elderly patients.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 34 (2) 119-126.
-Ytterberg C, Einarsson U, Holmqvist L W and Peterson E W (2013) A population-based study of
fall risk factors among people with multiple sclerosis in Stockholm county. Journal of
Rehabilitation Medicine. 45 (5) 452-4.
- Abstract Viewed: 424 times
- PDF Downloaded: 2488 times