Correlation of Balance and Functional Ankle Instability in Elderly Women

Objectives: To evaluate and find the correlation of balance and functional ankle instability in elderly women. Methodology: 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]) had 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: The mean age of the participants was 64.89±4.30 years. 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 (r = -0.550) 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.