[Prediction of falls with performance on Timed "Up-and-Go" and one-leg-balance tests and additional cognitive tasks].

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether ordinary clinical performance on the timed "up-and-go" and one-leg-balance tests varied with additional cognitive tasks and the predictive value of this combination for future falls.

Methodology: The sample comprised 95 women with osteoporosis who lived independently in the community and were older than 70 years (mean 73.4+/-1.7 years) who were randomized to perform the timed "up-and-go" (TUG) and one-leg-balance (OLB) tests. The tests were performed with or without an additional cognitive task (math task involving subtraction by 2 s or 5 s or addition by 3 s).

Results: For both TUG and OLB, performance decreased in the dual-task condition (P<0.05) but did not differ in older women with and without a history of falling, whatever the test, and with or without an additional cognitive load.

Conclusion: Performance on the TUG and OLB tests was less efficient when patients simultaneously performed a cognitive task. Performance on these tests, without or with cognitive tasks, did not predict falls in a sample of women who lived independently.