<%@ page language="C#" masterpagefile="~/HealthCalculators/healthcalcmaster.master" autoeventwireup="true" inherits="HealthCalculators_POMA, App_Web_0sg8achc" title="Performance- Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), " meta_keywords="Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment(POMA),Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment Scale,Health Assessment Graph For POMA,Performance-Oriented Mobility Calculatror,Ankle ROM (Range of Motion)" meta_description="The low common variance found between ankle ROM (Range of Motion) measurements and the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment POMA balance subtest scores indicates to us that ankle ROM may be relatively less important in these activities. During the maneuvers of the POMA balance subtest, including sitting, standing,and standing with eyes closed,other factors may be more critical in influencing balance,but our study was correlational and interventions were outside the scope of this study." enableEventValidation="false" %>
Performance- Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) Print this page Mail to friend(s)
Health Assessment Graph For POMA
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Balance (Chair):

Instructions: Place a hard armless chair against a wall. The following maneuvers are tested.  
1. Sitting down
unable without help or collapses (plops) into chair or lands off center of chair Able and does not meet criteria for first or last Sits in a smooth, safe motion and ends with buttocks against back of chair and thighs centered on chair Choose Question 1.
2. Sitting balance
Unable to maintain position (marked slide forward or leans forward or to side) Leans in chair slightly or slight increased distance from buttocks to back of chair Steady, safe, upright Choose Question 2.
3. Arising
Unable without help or loses balance or requires >three attempts Able but requires three attempts Able in = two attempts Choose Question 3.
4. Immediate standing balance (first 5 seconds)
Unsteady, marked staggering, moves feet, marked trunk sway or grabs object for support Steady but uses walker or cane or mild staggering but catches self without grabbing object Steady without walker or cane or other support Choose Question 4.
5. (Stand) side-by-side standing balance
Unable or unsteady or holds =3 seconds Able but uses cane, walker, or other support or holds for 4–9 seconds Narrow stance without support for 30 seconds Choose Question 5.
6. Pull test (person at maximum position attained in #5, examiner stands behind and exerts mild pull back at waist)
Begins to fall Takes more than two steps back Fewer than two steps backward and steady Choose Question 6.
7. Able to stand on right leg unsupported
Unable or holds onto any objects or able for <3 seconds Able for 3 or 4 seconds Able for 5 seconds Choose Question 7.
8. Able to stand on left leg unsupported
Unable or holds onto any object or able for <3 seconds Able for 3 or 4 seconds Able for 5 seconds Choose Question 8.
9. Semitandem stand
Unable to stand with one foot half in front of other with feet touching or begins to fall or holds for =3 seconds Able for 4 to 9 seconds Able to semitandem stand for 30 seconds Choose Question 9.
10. Tandem stand
Unable to stand with one foot in front of other or begins to fall or holds for =3 seconds Able for 4 to 9 seconds Able to tandem stand for 30 seconds Choose Question 10.
11. Bending over (to pick up a pen off floor)
Able and is steady Able, but requires more than one attempt to get up Unable or is unsteady Choose Question 11.
12. Toe stand
Able for 3 seconds Able but <3 seconds Unable Choose Question 12.
13. Heel stand
Able for 3 seconds Able but <3 seconds Unable Choose Question 13.
Gait: Instructions: Person stands with examiner, walks down 30-ft walkway (measured). Ask the person to walk down walkway, turn, and walk back. The person should use customary walking aid.
14. Initiation of gait (immediately after told to “go”)
Any hesitancy or multiple attempts to start No hesitancy Choose Question 14.
15. Path (estimated in relation to tape measure). Observe excursion of foot closest to tape measure over middle 8 feet of course.
Marked deviation Mild or moderate deviation or uses walking aid Straight without walking aid Choose Question 15.
16. Missed step (trip or loss of balance)
Yes, and would have fallen or more than two missed steps Yes, but appropriate attempt to recover and no more than two missed steps None Choose Question 16.
17. Turning (while walking)
Almost falls Mild staggering, but catches self, uses walker or cane Steady, without walking aid Choose Question 17.
18. Step over obstacles (to be assessed in a separate walk with two shoes placed on course 4 feet apart)
Begins to fall at any obstacle or unable or walks around any obstacle or >two missed steps Able to step over all obstacles, but some staggering and catches self or one to two missed steps Able and steady at stepping over all four obstacles with no missed steps Choose Question 18.

The low common variance found between ankle ROM (Range of Motion)  measurements and the Performance- Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) balance subtest scores indicates to us that ankle ROM may be relatively less important in these activities. During the maneuvers of the POMA balance subtest, including sitting, standing, and standing with eyes closed, other factors may be more critical in influencing balance, but our study was correlational and interventions were outside the scope of this study.

 

Conclusion

We found that a relationship exists between ankle ROM and performance on balance tests in community-dwelling elderly women with no health problems. Ankle exercises directed at increasing ankle ROM may increase the effectiveness of clinical and community interventions designed for improving balance and reducing falls in elderly women. Our results can provide information to those developing interventions and investigating treatment efficacy because they suggest that interventions for increasing ankle ROM may have an influence on reducing falls in this population.
Source: http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org