ASSESSMENT OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCE IN THE ELDERLY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH QUALITY OF LIFE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-9432.2026v5n3p364-378Keywords:
Envelhecimento. Equilíbrio. Quedas. Qualidade de vida. Saúde Funcional.Abstract
Aging is a natural and progressive process that leads to physiological changes capable of compromising functionality and quality of life in older adults, especially regarding body balance, increasing the risk of falls. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the static and dynamic balance of older adults and its relationship with quality of life. This is a field study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, exploratory in nature, and cross-sectional design, conducted with 20 older adults aged 60 years or older, assisted at a Physical Therapy Teaching Clinic in the city of Patos, PB, Brazil. Data collection was performed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Berg Balance Scale, and the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The results showed that 65% of participants had good functional balance, while 35% were classified as having moderate to high risk of falls. Regarding quality of life, a satisfactory overall perception was observed, with higher scores in the psychological and social domains. No statistically significant differences were found between age or sex and balance performance. It is concluded that, although most older adults present good functional performance, a significant portion shows balance impairment, reinforcing the need for preventive physiotherapeutic interventions. Furthermore, quality of life appears to be influenced by multidimensional factors and is not determined exclusively by functional condition.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Clara Brito Medeiros, Aline Guimarães Carvalho, Ana Mayara Mayara Pereira Vilar Trigueiro, Eva Jeminne de Lucena Araújo, Bruna Gean Vieira Bernardo, Thallya Santos Santiago
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