Correlation of postural balance with reaction time in elderly individuals

Falls in elderly individuals are serious and significant problems being a leading cause of injury and related morbidity and mortality in this age group. Impaired balance and slowed reaction time are profound contributors to falls in elderly individuals. Therefore, assessing balance and reaction time is crucial for understanding an individual’s ability to maintain equilibrium and respond to challenges in the environment. The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between postural balance and reaction time in elderly individuals, recognising the significance of these factors in the prevalence of falls in this age group. This is a descriptive observational study. Participants will be screened in the geriatric OPD and Physiotherapy OPD of tertiary care centre. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used to select appropriate participants. Informed consent will be obtained from willing participants. The study will require only one visit, approximately 30 minutes in duration, during one of the routine sessions of the participant. Assessments will include the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (CTSIB) and Deary Liewald Reaction Time task. The collected data will be subjected to normality tests to assess the distribution of data. Statistical analysis will be performed by either Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation test based on the distribution of data using IBM SPSS v26 (statistical package for social sciences) software.