Postural sway of the community dwelling population aged 60 to 80

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The Singapore population is "greying" with a rising prevalence of falls amongst older adults aged 60 years and above. The most common consequence of falls is fractures associated with significant disability and hospitalisation. Conceivably, from the societal perspective, hospitalisation of older adults incurs significant healthcare cost. When assessing the risk of falls, centre of pressure (COP) measures – assessed using laboratory-grade forceplates – have been shown to be sensitive in detecting fall risks; however, these forceplates are costly and non-portable. In this context, one of the investigators has recently harnessed a novel device (Nintendo Wii Fit board) to measure COP using customised software. The concept of using the Wii balance board to quantify balance is novel and it has not been investigated in the community. This device will be useful in early detection of decline in the older population that subsequently results in frailty. Early management can then be recommended to prevent the rapid decline with increasing age.