Lower-Extremity Muscle Force and Balance Performance in Adults Aged 65 Years and Older

Abstract

Background and Purpose.Measures of postural control may be useful for determining fall risk in older people and for determining the outcomes of treatments aimed at improving balance. Commonly used tools measure the output of the postural control system. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which one component of postural control (muscle force) contributes to scores on 3 functional balance measures. Subjects. Fifty community-dwelling volunteers between 65 and 91 years of age (X̄=74.82, SD=6.11) participated. Based on their histories, 11 subjects were classified as being at risk for falling. Methods. Measures were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Functional Reach Test (FRT), and the Timed Get Up & Go Test (GUG). The force generated by 12 lower-extremity muscle groups was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Results. In the group reporting no falls, dorsiflexor and subtalar evertor force accounted for 58% of the score on the BBS, ankle plantar-flexor and subtalar invertor force accounted for 48.4% of the score on the GUG, and ankle plantar-flexor force accounted for 13% of the score on the FRT. Ankle dorsiflexor and hip extensor forces were lower in subjects reporting falls, and force of the ankle dorsiflexors predicted fall status. Conclusion and Discussion. Distal muscle force measures may be able to contribute to the prediction of functional balance scores; however, the muscles involved in the prediction differ depending on the measure of balance.

Effects of progressive strength training on the performance of the Functional Reach Test and the Timed Get-Up-and-Go Test in an elderly population from the rural north of Portugal

“…The distance was measured (in cm) on a tape measure fixed to a wall. Daubney and Culham (1999) reported for this test strong intrarater reliability (r ¼ 0.92) and test-retest reliability (r ¼ 0.98). FRT measurements were taken for experimental and control groups before and after the strength-training program.…”

Physical and functional factors in activities of daily living that predict falls in community‐dwelling older women

“…As Daubney et al tested, the ankle dorsiflexors were found to be the best predictor of falling. 39 During gait, the ankle dorsiflexors are involved, together with the hip and knee flexors, in lifting the lower limb during the swing phase to make sufficient clearance of the toes over the ground to prevent tripping. Taken together, lower extremity muscle strength may be an important predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of falls.…”

Balance and Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: Effect of Daytime Sleepiness

“…2,3 Diminished ability to maintain balance is associated with fear of falling and risk of falling. 4 Physiological changes related to aging, for example, in cognitive function, 5 muscle strength, 6,7 lack of proprioception, 8 joint range of motion, 9 reaction time, 10 and sensory systems 11 may negatively affect balance control and affect the functional ability of older adults. Central nervous system (CNS) medications-hypnotics in particular [12][13][14] -have also been implicated as strong factors affecting balance and falls in older adults.…”