Impairment of balance by using sway meter in elderly population

Abstract: Balance is required for maintaining a position, remaining stable while moving from one position to another, performing acts of daily living, and moving freely in the community. Good balance depends on accurate and adequate information from the senses. Postural control involves controlling body’s position in space for dual purpose of stability and orientation. Aim and Objectives: • To study the prevalence of impairment of balance by using sway meter in elderly population with eye open and with eye close. • To study the prevalence of impairment of balance by using sway meter in elderly population with eye close and eye open. Materials • Digital SwayMeter (Arduino, strain gauge sensors) • Graph Paper Methodology: • The subjects were instructed to keep their hand by their sides during standing. Subjects were informed about procedure before starting. Duration of each trial is 30 second. The subjects were also instructed to stand on sole with insole strain gauge sensors. • During the time period the microcontroller (arduino) calibrates the sway in subjects through graph and measurements were noted for particular area of weight bearing that is anterior, posterior, left lateral or right lateral • The procedure was repeated for each trial. A total of 6 trials include 3 trials with eyes open and other 3 trials with eyes closed. Maximum deviation in 3 trials were taken for analysis. Results: The analytical data was collected. In eye open condition, In anterior direction 4% of subjects had sway <1cm, 56% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm, 32% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 4% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In posterior direction, 12% of subjects had sway <1cm, 68% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm, 8% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 4% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In lateral direction, 4% of subjects had sway<1cm, 64% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm , 20% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 8% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In different age groups with eye open 2.05 in 50-60year young population, 1.8 in 70-80 year old population. In eye closed condition, In anterior direction, 12% of subjects had sway <1cm, 56% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm, 20% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 12% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In posterior direction, 8% of subjects had sway <1cm, 56% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm,16% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 4% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In lateral direction, 4% of subjects had sway<1cm, 56% of subjects had sway in 1.1-2cm, 28% had sway in 2.1-3cm and remaining 8% had sway in 3.1-4cm. In different age groups with eye closed 2.1 in 60-70 year middle population and 1.83 in 50-60year young population. Conclusion: Hence, there was 100% sway in all through directions with eye open and eye close.