Comparison of balance and physical performance in aged 60 and over prisoner and not-prisoner males

Objective : The aim of this study is to compare balance and pyhsical performance in aged 60 and over prisoner and community dwelling males.Materials and Methods: Fiftynine prisoner males who join the study from Aydın and Nazilli E-type prisons called prisoner group and 59 males join the study from same region called control group. Demographic informations recorded in both groups. Functional balance tests and physical performance parameters were compared between groups. Functional balance was evaluated by timed up and go test, sit to stand test and Berg balance scale. Physical performance was evaluated by the six minutes walking test. Correlation analyses were performed between balance, physical pherformance and duration of being prisoner.Results: There were no significant differences, at age, body weight, BMI and medication between groups (p>0.05). A statictically significant difference was found between the groups in Berg balance score and the six minutes walking distance (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in timed up and go test and sit to stand test (p>0.05). However there was not significant correlation between balance tests, physical performance parameters and duration of being prisoner (p>0.05).Conclusion: We have found that balance performans of older male prisoner negative effected. However physical performance of male prisoners is beter than elderly not prisoner male. Duration of being prisoner has no effect on balance and physical performance.Keywords: Older, male, prisoner, balance, physical performance