Correlation of balance and functional ankle instability in elderly women

Background: The increasing in the risk of fall, which is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in elderly population, is resulted due to the impairment in the balance system of their bodies. The rapidly rising population of people aged 65 and above is the main subject of matter in present societies worldwide. Objectives: To evaluate and find the correlation of balance and functional ankle instability in elderly women. Methods: A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2020, in which 61 participants (i.e., elderly women) were included. In the selected old age homes the self-reported questionnaire (Identification of Functional Ankle Instability [IdFAI]) has been distributed to the participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria as hand-outs and the performance-based questionnaire (Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment [POMA]) have been assessed and filled by the researcher. Chi square was used for associations and Pearson correlation for balance score and functional instability score. Results: According to the result of Tinetti Balance score, 31.1% elderly women with low risk of fall, medium risk of fall was 32.8% whereas with high risk of fall was 36.1%. The IdFAI showed, elderly women with Ankle Instability 62.3% while elderly women with No Ankle Instability were 37.7%. There was negative (inverse) Pearson linear correlation between age and balance (p ≤ 0.05) which means when the age increases, the balance decreases and also a weak association between age and functional ankle instability (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that there was not adequate evidence to propose an association between Balance and self-reported functional ankle instability