Age and ageing
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frailty is a state of vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Routine identification of frailty is recommended in international guidance. This systematic review investigates the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of simple instruments for identifying frailty in community-dwelling older people. ⋯ slow gait speed, PRISMA 7 and the timed get-up-and-go test have high sensitivity for identifying frailty. However, limited specificity implies many false-positive results which means that these instruments cannot be used as accurate single tests to identify frailty.
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frailty is a state of vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Routine identification of frailty is recommended in international guidance. This systematic review investigates the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of simple instruments for identifying frailty in community-dwelling older people. ⋯ slow gait speed, PRISMA 7 and the timed get-up-and-go test have high sensitivity for identifying frailty. However, limited specificity implies many false-positive results which means that these instruments cannot be used as accurate single tests to identify frailty.
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osteoarthritis (OA) of knee has been reported as a risk factor for falls and reduced balance in the elderly. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of physical therapies in improving balance and reducing falls risk among patients with knee OA. ⋯ strength training, Tai Chi and aerobics exercises improved balance and falls risk in older individuals with knee OA, while water-based exercises and light treatment did not significantly improve balance outcomes. Strength training, Tai Chi and aerobics exercises can therefore be recommended as falls prevention strategies for individuals with OA. However, a large randomised controlled study using actual falls outcomes is recommended to determine the appropriate dosage and to measure the potential benefits in falls reduction.