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Introdução: Quedas são um problema clínico comum nos idosos, que pode reduzir sua mobilidade e independência. O uso de instrumentos simples para detecção do risco de quedas é fundamental para prevenção e tratamento de tais eventos. Não há, porém, consenso quanto aos testes mais adequados para cada situação. Objetivo: Revisar estudos sobre eficácia, sensibilidade e especificidade dos testes Timed Up and Go Test e Berg Balance Scale, a fim de verificar qual é o mais apropriado para predizer quedas em idosos. Métodos: Realizou-se revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados MEDLINE, PubMed, ISI, LILACS e Portal de Periódicos CAPES, entre os anos de 2001 e 2011. Resultados: Foram selecionados 37 artigos, sendo 17 sobre a Berg Balance Scale e 20 sobre o Timed Up and Go Test. A revisão mostrou que os dois testes podem ser bons preditores de quedas, mas os artigos diferiram quanto à definição de queda e caidor, tipo de estudo, quantidade e característica da amostra e avaliação de quedas, levando a diferentes resultados quanto a nota de corte, sensibilidade, especificidade e predição de quedas. Há controvérsias quanto à capacidade de predição em perfis específicos, como os idosos ativos. Conclusão: Os testes avaliados são eficazes para predição de quedas, desde que adaptados para cada perfil. Novos estudos devem ser realizados com metodologia homogênea, a fim de favorecer a comparação de resultados sobre a eficácia desses testes. Introduction: Fall is a common problem in the elderly and it can reduce their mobility and independence. The use of simple tools to detect risk of falls is essential to prevent and treat such events. However, there is no consensus about the most appropriate tools for each situation. Objective: To review studies about efficacy, sensitivity and specificity of Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in order to ascertain which is the most appropriate to predict falls in the elderly. Methods: We performed a literature review from MEDLINE, PubMed, ISI, LILACS and Portal de Periódicos CAPES databases, between 2001 and 2011. Results: We selected 17 different articles about BBS and 20 articles about TUGT. The review showed the two tools can be good predictors of falls. However, the articles differed in definition of fall and faller, type of study, quantity and characteristics of sample and assessment of falls, leading to different results as cutoff scores, sensitivity, specificity and prediction of fall. There is controversy about the ability of tools to predict falls in specific samples, such as active elderly. Conclusion: TUGT and BBS are effective to predict falls, provided they are adapted to each sample. Further studies should be performed using articles with homogeneous methods in order to support comparison of results about the effectiveness of tools.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between satisfaction with body image and self-esteem of old people assisted by the Serviceof Geriatrics of Hospital of Clinics of Medical College of University of Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), participants of the Group of Ambulatory MultidisciplinaryAssistance to Old People (GAMIA) and the Physiotherapy Clinic for Very Old People (AFIL) in the year 2008, by knowing the impact of these aspects onhealth care of old people. We used an identification questionnaire; Body Mass Index (IMC); Sorensen and Stunkard Scale for self-evaluation of bodyimage; Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (the version translated and adapted for Portuguese: DINI, 2001). Statistical Analysis: Fisher’s exact test; Kruskal-Wallis or t-Student test; variance analysis; p ≤0,05. In AFIL (n=11), all old people are women, average age 82.9 years (±3,5). In GAMIA (n=30), 50% ofthe participants are female and 50% male, average age 70.5 (±5,8). Averages of IMC indicated eutrophy: 27.33 AFIL= ±3.96; 26.71 GAMIA = ±5.16.Regarding satisfaction with body image, in AFIL, 27.27% were satisfied and 72.72% were not; in GAMIA, 43.44% were satisfied and 56.67% were not.As concerns Self-Esteem, the average of AFIL was 9.91 (±6.14) and GAMIA’s, 7.3 (±4.37), indicating a high Self-Esteem. No significant difference wasobserved between the groups. The evaluated data suggest that most old people is not satisfied with body image, and therefore would like to haveleaner silhouettes than hey, although eutrophic. One may infer that they have a high Self-Esteem, even those displeased with their body image. It isknown that satisfaction with body image and Self-Esteem depend on multiple factors and that they affect directly or indirectly cares with health ofold people, deserving thus being addressed in future studies.

Falling in older age is a major public health concern due to its costly and disabling consequences. However very few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted in developing countries, in which population ageing is expected to be particularly substantial in coming years. This article describes the design of an RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactorial falls prevention program in reducing the rate of falls in community-dwelling older people. Multicentre parallel-group RCT involving 612 community-dwelling men and women aged 60 years and over, who have fallen at least once in the previous year. Participants will be recruited in multiple settings in Sao Paulo, Brazil and will be randomly allocated to a control group or an intervention group. The usual care control group will undergo a fall risk factor assessment and be referred to their clinicians with the risk assessment report so that individual modifiable risk factors can be managed without any specific guidance. The intervention group will receive a 12-week Multifactorial Falls Prevention Program consisting of: an individualised medical management of modifiable risk factors, a group-based, supervised balance training exercise program plus an unsupervised home-based exercise program, an educational/behavioral intervention. Both groups will receive a leaflet containing general information about fall prevention strategies. Primary outcome measures will be the rate of falls and the proportion of fallers recorded by monthly falls diaries and telephone calls over a 12 month period. Secondary outcomes measures will include risk of falling, fall-related self-efficacy score, measures of balance, mobility and strength, fall-related health services use and independence with daily tasks. Data will be analysed using the intention-to-treat principle.The incidence of falls in the intervention and control groups will be calculated and compared using negative binomial regression analysis. This study is the first trial to be conducted in Brazil to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to prevent falls. If proven to reduce falls this study has the potential to benefit older adults and assist health care practitioners and policy makers to implement and promote effective falls prevention interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01698580 )