https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/58646 2026-04-05T04:06:18Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60057 Title: Static Balance From the Short Physical Performance Battery Compared With BTrackS Among Older Adults Author(s): Suarez, Jethro Raphael; Lafontant, Kworweinski; Goble, Daniel; Park, Joon-Hyuk; Dino, Michael; Thiamwong, Ladda Abstract: The static balance portion of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) has rarely been compared directly with gold standard force plate balance assessments. This study aimed to compare static balance metrics from a cost-efficient force plate between community-dwelling older adults with low and high SPPB balance scores. The Balance Tracking System (BTrackS), a stationary and simple balance assessment instrument, was used for measuring static balance metrics during a non-visual static balance test. The static balance portion of the SPPB ranges from a total score of 0 to 4 and involves unsupported standing for 10 seconds in a side-by-side, a semi-tandem, and a tandem stance. We cross-sectionally compared center of pressure (COP) path length and sway area from 204 community-dwelling older adults aged 61 to 96 (176 women, mean age = 75 ± 7 years) who completed a BTrackS and SPPB assessment. A total of 146 older adults exhibited a high SPPB balance score (= 4), while 58 exhibited a low SPPB balance score (≤ 3). The Low SPPB Balance group had significantly greater COP path length (p = 0.006) and sway area (p < 0.001) compared to the High SPPB Balance group. These results suggest that the balance score from the SPPB is a valid indicator of static balance performance when compared to a gold standard force plate assessment and therefore, provide evidence for clinicians with limited technological resources to use the SPPB in a similar population and infer postural sway metrics based on high or low SPPB balance scores. 2025-11-12T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/59960 Title: Directional postural sway tendencies and static balance among community-dwelling older adults with depression and without cognitive impairment Author(s): Suarez, Jethro Raphael M.; Decker, Veronica B.; Park, Joon-Hyuk; Lighthall, Nichole R.; Dino, Michael Joseph S.; Thiamwong, Ladda Abstract: BackgroundDepression is prevalent among older adults and is known to negatively affect balance, ultimately leading to falls. However, few studies have investigated the effect of depression on static balance metrics beyond postural sway distance and area of older adults without mild cognitive impairment (MCI).AimsTo investigate if postural sway distance, sway area, medial-lateral (ML) sway range, anterior-posterior (AP) sway range, and center-of-pressure (COP) sway speed variability differed between non-cognitively impaired older adults with minimal-to-no depression (Minimally Depressive group) and mild-to-severe depression (Mildly-to-Severely Depressive group).MethodsA total of 204 community-dwelling older adults were included. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), MCI using the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), and static balance metrics using the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS). Mann-Whitney U tests determined differences between groups.ResultsSway area, AP sway range, and ML sway range were significantly greater in the Mildly-to-Severely Depressive group than the Minimally Depressive group (p = 0.010, p = 0.016, and p = 0.031, respectively). Sway distance (p = 0.445) and COP sway speed variability (p = 0.193) were not significantly different between groups.DiscussionThe findings revealed greater sway area, as well as greater ranges in the AP and ML directions, in the Mildly-to-Severely Depressive group when compared to the Minimally Depressive Group. Reduced concentration and affected postural stabilization mechanisms driven by depression may have attributed to these results.ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for further understanding of how static balance metrics, such as directional sway, are affected by depression, thereby creating interventions tailored to individual&apos;s postural sway characteristics to help reduce fall risk and improve balance.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05778604). 2025-07-31T15:00:00Z