Study of Static and Dynamic Posturographic Elements Predictive of Falls in the Institutionalized Elderly

A fall in the elderly is defined by the WHO as "an event in which a person \[over 65 years of age\] inadvertently falls to a lower level on the ground or other surface than they were previously at". The severity of the consequences of falls is correlated with the age of the person who suffers them, making people over 65 at risk. Since 2000, the number of falls among the elderly has not decreased, including in institutions. Today, the direct and indirect costs of falls are estimated at 1.7 billion euros in France. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) stresses that the lack of success of prevention policies is due in particular to the lack of evaluation and prevention resources. In nursing homes, this lack of resources is sometimes used to justify passive restraint to ensure the safety of participants. However, this method poses the problem of the free movement of residents within the institution. The fall detection technologies already on the market do not allow for the assessment of the risk of falling and therefore for early action. Based on the latest scientific data in static posturography, researchers at the Borelli Centre have developed posturographic markers whose non-linear analysis makes it possible to establish an objective and clinically relevant score based on the study of the displacement of the centre of pressure. In contrast to the techniques commonly used in the laboratory to study balance (which are not usable in health care institutions because of their cost, lack of transportability and the expertise required to explore the recorded data), this method of measurement allows health care professionals to quickly and easily measure the balance of participants in routine consultations. Thus, special attention and targeted rehabilitation can then be implemented to prevent falls and their consequences.