Characteristics of postural balance in older female fire victims

Relevance. Compared with economically developed countries, Russia has a high risk of fires. In 2005–2017 in (175.8 ± 9.0) thousand fires were reported in Russia annually, with (81.1 ± 5.3) thousand people rescued, (12.6 ± 0.9) thousand died and (12.1 ± 0.4) thousand injured. The average annual direct damage from fires was (13.4 ± 1.1) billion rubles. The experienced extreme and emergency situations have a particularly significant impact on the functional status and health of an older person.

Intention. The purpose of this work is to identify the features of the components of postural balance in older women who have survived a fire.

Methodology. 94 women aged 60–69 years were examined. The study group included women who, as a result of the fire, lost (in part or in full) their possessions and housing (fire victims). The comparison group randomly included women without any extreme situations (fire hazard, crime, road traffic, as well as the death of close relatives) over the past two years. To assess the quality of the equilibrium function, posture control strategy and sensory organization of postural control, we conducted the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) of the computer dynamic posturographic complex Smart Equitest Balance Manager.

Results and discussion. Based on the SOT analysis, it was found that stressful situations associated with extreme or emergency situations experienced by older women influence the components of their postural balance. These changes included a decrease in the quality of the equilibrium function in functional tests 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 for fire victims; a decrease in the postural strategy in tests 5 and 6; a decrease in the resulting assessments of both the quality of the equilibrium function and the strategies for maintaining the posture of the entire SOT, as well as the degree of participation of vestibular information in the balance control.

Conclusions. In female fire victims, the components of postural control change: the quality of the equilibrium function decreases, the strategy of maintaining posture deteriorates.

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