Effectiveness of ‘Multidirectional Reach Test’ to Analyze Centre of Pressure Excursion in Healthy Geriatric Population

Generally hi tech equipments like force platforms are required to measure the excursion of ‘centre of pressure’ for balance assessment. The purpose of our study was to find the effectiveness of a simple measure like ‘Multidirectional reach test ‘routinely used in the clinical set up to analyze centre of pressure excursion in healthy geriatric population.

To correlate readings of multidirectional reach test with that of centre of pressure excursion on the balance master.

30 healthy elderly above 65 years of age participated in this study. ‘Multidirectional reach test’ required a yardstick mounted on the wall that could be adjusted at the height of the acromian process of the subject. The subjects were asked to stand on the force platforms shoulder distance apart and reach in forward, backward, right and left directions with one arm (shoulder flexed to 90 degrees and elbow in extension) along the yardstick without moving feet or taking a step. Average of three readings of the reach distance in each direction was calculated and corresponding centre of pressure excursion in each direction was measured using balance master.

The readings of ‘Multidirectional reach test’ on the yardstick were correlated with the centre of pressure excursion on the balance master. We found no significant correlation between the two parameters.

The study shows that at present centre of pressure excursion cannot be effectively analyzed using ‘Multidirectional reach test’ in healthy geriatric population as there is no importance given to the specific instruction regarding postural strategy to be used.