Functional Independence in Getting up from the Floor among Home-visit Rehabilitation Users with Independent Ambulation

Objective: Little is known about the level of independence in getting up from the floor in elderly persons. The aim of this study is identifying the level of independence in getting up from the floor in elderly persons, using the Independently Getting up Off the floor scoring system (IGO).Methods: One hundred elderly person able to walk independently and using home-visit rehabilitation were included in this study. We assessed IGO, and divided them into two groups according to whether they were independent in getting up from the floor or not. The level of needed long-term care, main illness, level of independence in activities of daily living, Barthel Index, grip strength and history of falls were compared between these groups.Results: 71% of the participants were independent in IGO, while the remaining 29% were not. The independent group in the IGO had higher independence in activities of daily living, less history of falls, and higher grasping power than the dependent group in the IGO.Conclusion: Around 30% of the home-visit rehabilitation users could not get up from the floor independently, despite their independence in walking. Elderly persons who are unable to get up from the floor after a fall may be at increased risk of secondary complications such as trauma. Future longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to clarify the relationship between the IGO and the risk of trauma after a fall.