Comparison Across Height Groups Between the Forward Functional Reach (FFR) Test and Other Fall Risk Outcome Measures to Identify Fall Risk Among Older Adults

BACKGROUND/Purpose: The Forward Functional Reach (FFR) test assesses anterior/posterior movement to identify fall risk. Previous studies have used the same cut value to identify fall risk for all people. The purpose of this study was to determine a correlation between FFR and other fall risk measures based on individual height. Methods: Participants age 60 plus were recruited from a senior activity center. Participants’ height was measured using a stadiometer then each performed FRR test using the 1-arm reaching method followed by completing: Fall/medical history, Activities Based Confidence Scale, Timed up and Go, & grip strength. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics and a Pearson correlation between FFR and each outcome measure. RESULTS: Sixty-six participants were stratified into height groups: \u3c 65”, 65” to 69”, \u3e69”. Using 10” cut value for all groups, low correlations were found between FFR and each measure: Grip Strength: +0.45, ABC: +0.25, Fall history: +0.05 and TUG:-0.33. Only the medium height group was accurately identified as fall risk by the FFR when identified by at least one other measure. FFR only identified 44% in the short height and 53% in the tallest height group as fall risk. Conclusion: Using the current criterion of a single value (10”) as a cutoff for FFR is not supported by this study; with results of 66% false positives in the short height group and 47% false negative in the tall height group. Future studies should look at individual markers of fall risk for the FFR based on height of the individual