Association Between Computerized Reaction Time, Short Physical Performance Battery and Berg Balance Scale in the Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background : Falls, in older adults, can worsen physical functioning and lead to serious complications. Thus, as a means of preventive intervention, this high-risk group should be screened. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether reaction time is clinically applicable as a fall risk assessment tool. Methods : The study participants were community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older, who scored 24 or more in the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, and did not have difficulty with communication and comprehension. To investigate the relationship between hand reaction time and fall risk, we used items from a recently developed computerized apparatus, which includes 2 fall risk assessment tools: the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results : Reaction time was negatively correlated with the total SPPB (r=-0.314, p