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

Etude Des éléments Posturographiques Statiques et Dynamiques prédictifs de la Chute de la Personne âgée institutionnalisée

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.

Since 2000, the number of falls among the elderly has not decreased, even in institutions. The HAS stresses that the lack of success of prevention policies is due in particular to the lack of means of evaluation and prevention. Based on the latest scientific data in static posturography, researchers at the UMRD Cognac-G have developed posturographic markers whose non-linear analysis makes it possible to establish an objective and clinically relevant score for analysing the risk of falls in EHPAD residents. This measurement method, patented [FR1660846; FR1660850; FR1557582; FR1770031] and published [Oudre, 2015; Audiffren, 2016; Barrois, 2017; Bargiotas, 2018], allows health professionals to quickly assess the balance of participants in routine consultations.

According to the WHO, falls are the consequence of many multidimensional factors. Adapted physical activity can have a beneficial effect on these factors, particularly in terms of reducing risk behaviours, modifying the environment and improving physiological capacities. If the results of the study prove to be relevant, in the long term, measurements based on the Borelli Centre's method of measuring balance in EHPAD could be recommended. It could thus help doctors in the early management of balance disorders in institutionalized elderly people.

The main objective of this Postadychute-AG study is to quantify and monitor the risk of falls in the elderly on a monthly basis by validating the relevance of the patented indicators and their analysis, which are obtained from a statokinesigram recorded on a force platform and data from inertial units measuring the movements of body segments, predicting the risk of falling. This will be done by comparing the predicted risk of falling with the number of falls actually recorded each month of follow-up of institutionalized seniors undergoing adapted physical activity (APA). Our secondary objectives are also to :

• To study the sensitivity of our model to the natural evolution of nursing home residents during a 3-month observation period without APA and to the improvement of their condition with APA sessions in addition to routine care
• To assess the acceptability of the measurement method and the use of the fall score through the scale developed for this purpose among nursing home staff.
• If the results of the study prove to be relevant, the ultimate aim is to recommend that measurements be taken using the measurement method used in this study. It will thus be able to help doctors in their diagnosis and early management of balance disorders by teams of rehabilitation specialists.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult subjects of both sexes, aged 65 and over, with social insurance;
• Residing in an ORPEA Group retirement home;
• Do not have a neurological, inner ear or visual disorder that is incompatible with climbing on the force platform or walking 10 metres round trip without human assistance;
• Can safely climb onto the platform by force (as estimated by the investigating practitioner) and can maintain an erect position for more than 1 minute, with eyes open or closed;
• Had an MMSE score of more than 18 on the nursing home entrance examination;
• Having a life expectancy of more than 6 months, as estimated by the coordinating doctor;
• Having signed the informed consent.

Non-inclusion Criteria:

• Non-mobile resident: any person with a musculoskeletal or neurosensory disorder that does not allow them to stand for more than 1 minute on the power platform;
• History of limb amputation;
• Blindness, assessed using an Amsler grid;
• Refusal of the resident.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exit from the trial by resident's choice ;
• Inability of the resident to continue with static and dynamic assessments (e.g. due to a serious adverse event following a fall) The study is an intention-to-treat study and data from participants who do not complete the protocol will be used until the date of their exclusion from the trial or their death.