Male elders have greater balance confidence, but not actual balance performance and lower limb muscular strength, than female elders

![CDATA[Objectives: To compare balance self-efficacy, functional balance performance, fall frequency and lower limb muscular strength between male and female elders. Methods: 31 female seniors (mean age ± SD: 72.0 ± 5.4 years) and 8 male seniors (mean age ± SD: 72.9 ± 8.0 years) participated in the study. Balance self-efficacy, functional balance performance and lower limb muscular strength were measured by the validated Chinese version of activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS), respectively. In addition, the frequency of falls in the past six months was documented. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to compare the FTSTS time, BBS total score and number of falls between the two genders while controlling for body height of the participants. The mean ABC score between the two genders was compared by independent t-test. Results: MANCOVA revealed that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in FTSTS time, BBS total score and fall frequency between the two genders. However, male seniors (88.6 ± 12.6) demonstrated significantly higher (p=0.021) mean ABC score than the female seniors (77.3 ± 11.6). Conclusions: Male elders had greater self-perceived balance confidence than female elders. However, their actual functional balance performance, fall frequency and lower limb muscular strength were no different from their female counterparts. Our results hint that health care professionals should inform the male seniors regarding their actual balance performance in the fall prevention programs.]]