Physical, energetic, and social balance in the life of seniors

The ability of physical balance is considered as a key factor in preventing falls and subsequent injuries in the elderly. With regard to balance in the global concept of life, balance evaluation leads to an operational holistic definition of physical balance. The aim of the study is to analyze the predictive components and determinants of overall physical balance, including gait balance in seniors aged sixty five years and older in the context of energy and social balance aspects in seniors aged sixty five years and over. The survey included 500 seniors aged 65 years and older selected by stratified randomized sampling from all regions of the Czech Republic. In the monitored group of seniors there were 234 males (age mean: 74.5 SD ± 7.74) and 266 females (age mean: 76.9 SD ± 7.23). Selected methods of “Medical anamnesis”, “Anamnestic self-assessment”, “Functional anthropological examination”, “Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool”, Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used for diagnostics. Multivariate dimensional regression, such as the orthogonal latent structure projection (OPLS) method, was chosen for statistical evaluation. The correlation analyses of the Tineti summary balance score and the results of Anamnestic Self-assessment, anthropometric parameters and psychosocial indices in relation to gender are presented. SF-36 items, positively or negatively correlate with the physical balance performance of seniors, are discussed. Functional anthropological indicators significant to the balance ability were analyzed. Use of analgesics and psych pharmaceuticals, has a significant negative impact on both social balance and the mental health score. Also, high BMI and body fat percentage negatively correlate with social balance.