Abstract :Objectives: The purpose was to measure features of Physical Performance (PP) and quality of life in women of older age with Vertebral Fractures (VFs) depending on their quantity and localization.
Materials and Methods: We examined 230 postmenopausal women aged 50-89 years old, which divided into 2 groups:
1st: stone-without any previous fractures.
2nd: with VF sin thoracic or lumbar spine.
Females from 2nd group were divided into subgroups:
2a: with one VF
2b: with two or more VFs; 2nd-females with thoracic VFs; 2l-women with lumbar VFs;
2c: patients with combined VFs (thoracic and lumbar spine).
The PP was assessed using the following tests: 3-, 4-and 15-meter gait speed tests, hand grip strength, five-repetition sit-to-stand test, measurement of chest excursion, lateral trunk lean, respiratory rates, breath holding and Schober and Thomayer tests. Quality of life was assessed by EuroQol-5D questionnaire, disability-using Roland-Morris questionnaire.
Results: It was shown that lateral trunk lean, chest excursion, 15-metre test, five-repetition sitto- stand test and hand grip strength changed only in women with 2 or more VFs compared to parameters in control group, whereas index of Schober test, breath holding are worse both in women with one or two or more VFs. The females with thoracic VFs had their indexes of breath holding and 15-metre tests changed compared to control group, whereas women with lumbar VFs had worse indexes of hand grip strength, Schober test, lateral trunk lean and five-repetition sit-tostand test compared to control group. The index of lateral trunk lean, chest excursion, 15-metretest and hand grip strength in females with combined VFs are reliably worse compared to control group.
Conclusion: The parameters of PP depend on VFs quantity and localization that should be accounted in assessment of physical performance and development of rehabilitation programs for females with VFs.