The Correlation of the Four Square Step Test and Fall Index in Healthy Adults

Objective: As individuals age, their ability to balance decreases, heightening the risk of falls. Falls among the elderly can lead tofractures and injuries, emphasizing the need to identify factors predicting falls for effective prevention strategies. This study aimsto ascertain the correlation between the fall index using the Tetrax and three other balance tests: one-leg standing test (dominant,non-dominant), dynamic balance test, and the Four Square Step Test(FSST) in healthy adults. Design: Cross-sectional studyMethods: The study included thirty healthy adults from Daejeon, South Korea, with normal joint ranges of motion in the hip, knee,and ankle joints. Participants underwent assessments for the fall index, both dominant and non-dominant one-leg standing tests,dynamic balance test, and FSST. Correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationships among four balance measures. Results: Thirty participants had an average age of 19.34 years, height of 166.97 cm, and weight of 60.81 kg. Measurementsincluded the fall index, dominant and non-dominant one-leg standing tests, dynamic balance, and FSST completion times. The mean fall index was 31.90 ± 23.32 score. Correlation analysis identified a significant relationship between the fall index andFSST(p<0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the Four Square Step Test is a useful tool for identifying fall risk among healthy adults.