Functional Reach: Predictive Validity in a Sample of Elderly Women over a Three Month Period

Purpose: To assess predictive validity of the Functional Reach Test in identifying elderly females who are at risk for falls over a three month follow up period. Subjects: 40 elderly women over the age of 70 volunteered from an adult living facility. Method: The subjects were tested for Functional Reach and asked to report any incidence of falls over a three month follow up period. Data were analyzed with Discriminant Analysis and Pearson\u27s Correlation Coefficients to investigate the relationship between functional reach and age, fall history, use of assistive devices, height and weight. Results: Discriminant Analysis revealed no significant predictability for falls among a sample of elderly women, within a three month period, when investigating functional reach, age, height, weight, fall history, and use of assistive devices. A fair degree of relationship existed between age and functional reach (r=.390, p=.013). Conclusion: The Functional Reach was not predictive of falls among a sample of elderly women over a three month period