Instruments used in brazil for evaluation of physical mobility as predictor factor of falls in adults

Abstract

The physical mobility is one of the main predictable variables of fall risks and its continuous evaluation is very important. It could be done by technological instruments as scales and tests that improve professional’s actions, such as nurses. This study aimed to analyze instruments that evaluate mobility and were used in thesis and dissertations studies in order to categorize the data concerning methodology, results and limitations. The research was developed in Public Domain Portal and CAPES Thesis Database from October to November 2009. Thirteen available researches developed on South and Southwest regions were identified. They were mostly dissertations, cross-sectional studies that had the elderly as a target. Seven instruments were found, from which the most frequently applied instrument was the Berg balance scale, in spite of its limitations. All the instruments presented significant statistical correlations regarding the identification of mobility problems such as fall risks factor. However, there is continuous need of studies with more methodological accuracy and in different populations.