Background: Fall risks among middle-aged women are relatively high. However, there is a lack of studies on tools of balance tests and their accuracy among middle-aged women. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare three tools of balance tests to predict falls of middle-aged women who exercise regularly and who do not. Methods: Eighty-five middle-aged women (50-64 years old) were included in this study, and 40 women of them (47.1%) exercised regularly. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and 30-second Chair Stand Test (30-s CST) were the tools examined in this study. The numerical data of this study were analyzed by using a Mann-Whitney test. Those were significant if p<0.05. Accuracy of the tools of balance tests was evaluated by using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Area under the curve (AUC) was significant if ≥0.70. Results: Based on this study, the middle-aged women (EG) indicated lower score of TU than sedentary (SG) test (6.9 ± 0.9 vs 8.3 ± 1.7, p = <0.000), and higher score of 30-s than sedentary (SG) test (20.1 ± 3.6 vs 17.2 ± 5.6, p = 0.026). Three participants (3.53%) reported history of falls. The TUG test had better accuracy to predict the falls (AUC 0.922, 95% CI 0.840 -1.005, sensitivity 1.00, specificity 0.84, p=0.013). Mostly, the participants (≈70%) preferred to practice Tai Chi and Yoga. Conclusion:The middle-aged women who exercised could have a better score of the balance tests, and the TUG test could predict falls of them.Latar Belakang: Risiko jatuh pada perempuan paruh baya cukup tinggi. Namun, studi tentang tes keseimbangan dan akurasi tes tersebut pada perempuan paruh baya belum banyak diungkap. Tujuan Penelitian: Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk membandingkan tiga tes keseimbangan dalam memprediksi risiko jatuh pada perempuan paruh baya yang melakukan olahraga dan yang tidak melakukan olahraga.

Objective: Increased prevalence of elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents was associated with increased body weight and measures. Also, prevalence of elevated blood pressure varies between countries. This study is to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood pressure in Indonesian children and its relationship with bodyweight and anthropometric measures.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1010 elementary students aged 8–12 years (479 girls, 531 boys). The anthropometric measures and blood pressure were assessed. Elevated blood pressure (EBP) was determined if at the 90th percentile or above for gender, age, and height. Independent t-test, Chi-square, Pearson correlation, and multivariate logistic regression were applied. Significance was determined at p<0.05.Results: Overall prevalence of EBP was 28.8% (35.9% in girls, 22.4% in boys). BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and abdominal skinfold had significant correlation with EBP. Elevated BP was higher in overweight and obesity than in normoweight (60.5% vs 39.5%, p=0.00). In girls, the OR of EBP for overweight and obesity were 2.33 (95% CI 1.40 - 3.87, p=0.03) and 3.44 (95% CI 1.98 - 5.99, p=0.00)  whereas in boys were 4.26 (95% CI 2.20 - 8.28, p=0.00) and 8.82 (95% CI 5.10 - 15.38, p=0.00).Conclusions: Prevalence of EBP in Indonesian school children aged 8-11 years was higher and more prevalent in overweight/obesity and in girls. Anthropometric measures were correlated with EBP.

BACKGROUNDThe osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OST) is a simple screening tool to assess risk of osteoporosis and to select high risk women for dualenergy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination. This study aimed to evaluate OST performance in detecting low bone mineral density (BMD) in menopausal women.

Background: There is increasing evidence that practicing tai chi or yoga can improve the elderly’s physical performance. This study aimed to compare the effects of tai chi and yoga on balance and leg muscle strength in the elderly. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 90 elderly persons who practice tai chi (n = 36), yoga (n = 23), and a control group (n = 31). The balance function was assessed using the single-leg stance (SLS) test, while leg muscle strength (LMS) was assessed using a leg-back dynamometer. A Chi-square, Spearman rank test, one-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc were applied. The significance was set at p<0.05. Results: One-way ANOVA showed a difference in LMS and SLS between groups (p<0.01). LSD post hoc analysis found the difference in LMS between tai chi and yoga (64.3 vs. 41.5, p<0.01) and tai chi and control (64.3 vs. 30.4, p<0.01). The difference was also found in SLS between tai chi and control (36.7 vs. 6.2, p<0.01) and between yoga and control (41.4 vs. 6.2, p<0.01). Conclusion: Elderly persons who participated in tai chi and yoga demonstrated higher LMS and SLS performance than the sedentary participants. The tai chi group showed better muscle strength than the yoga group.

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a condition in which lower extremities have a diff erent length. The discrepancy can cause functional dysfunction and health problem. Low back pain (LBP) is one of a health problem associated with LLD. The prevalence of LBP in young people increases over time. This study aimed to evaluate the association between LLD and LBP in college students. This cross-sectional study involved 75 (40 female) students of Faculty of Medicine, Atma Jaya. Height, weight, and BMI were measured and calculated. True leg length was measured three times using tape measurement in the supine position. The LLD was defi ned as the diff erence of 10 mm or more. Numeric data between LLD vs no LLD were compared using independent samples of the t-test. The association between LLD, LBP, and other variables were evaluated using chi-square. A p-value <0.05 was set as statistically signifi cant. Statistics analysis was computed using SPSS (ver. 17). Leg length discrepancy and LBP were found in 31 (22 female) and 36 (22 female), respectively. Among those with LBP, 16 were LLD (44.4%). No association was found between LBP and LLD (p=0.548), BMI (p=0.518), and gender (p=0.164). Gender was associated with LLD (OR 3.53, 95%CI 1.32 -9.42, p=0.010). Only 5 (13.9%) of aff ected LBP experienced dysfunctional state. There is no relationship between LLD, gender, BMI and LBP in students of the Faculty of Medicine. Female have a higher risk of LLD.