Meta- analysis demonstrated fallers perform significantly worse than non-fallers on all measures analysed except the Timed Up and Go Cognitive ( p < 0.05 ) , but discriminative ability of the measures is commonly not reported .
Of those reported , the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value ( 0.92 ) , but without reporting corresponding measures of clinical utility .
Conclusion : Clinical measures of balance differ significantly between fallers and non-fallers but have poor predictive ability for falls risk in people with multiple sclerosis
Objective : To determine the ability of clinical measures of balance to distinguish fallers from non-fallers and to determine their predictive validity in identifying those at risk of falls .
Fatigue, Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and Fall Risk in People with Multiple Sclerosis.
Background Fatigue , inactivity , and falls are major health issues for people with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) . We examined the extent to which fatigue and low walking activity are associated with quality of life and increased fall risk in people with MS . Methods People with MS ( N = 210 , aged 21 - 74 years ) were categorized as having either high or low reported fatigue and walking activity levels  and were then followed up for falls using monthly fall diaries for 6 months . Results A high level of fatigue was significantly associated with higher MS Disease Steps scores , worse balance , high composite physiological ( Physiological Profile Assessment ) fall risk scores , greater fear of falling , lower World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule ( WHODAS ) quality of life scores , and more prospect ively recorded falls . Low walking activity was significantly associated with higher MS Disease Steps scores , reduced proprioception , worse st and ing and leaning balance , slow stepping , slow gait speed , worse fine motor control , high Physiological Profile Assessment fall risk scores , more fear of falling , and lower WHODAS quality of life scores . Conclusions Increased fatigue and low walking activity levels were significantly associated with increased fall risk and lower quality of life in people with MS . Interventions aim ed at addressing fatigue and inactivity may have multiple benefits for this group
Meta- analysis demonstrated fallers perform significantly worse than non-fallers on all measures analysed except the Timed Up and Go Cognitive ( p < 0.05 ) , but discriminative ability of the measures is commonly not reported .
Of those reported , the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value ( 0.92 ) , but without reporting corresponding measures of clinical utility .
Conclusion : Clinical measures of balance differ significantly between fallers and non-fallers but have poor predictive ability for falls risk in people with multiple sclerosis
Objective : To determine the ability of clinical measures of balance to distinguish fallers from non-fallers and to determine their predictive validity in identifying those at risk of falls .