The Relationship Between Muscle Fatigue and Balance in the Elderly.
10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.389
- Author:
Hee Seung NAM
1
;
Dong Sik PARK
;
Dong Hyun KIM
;
Hyun Jung KANG
;
Dong Hun LEE
;
Sang Hun LEE
;
Jin Gang HER
;
Ji Hea WOO
;
Seung Yeon CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea. kangsoa1@daum.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Balance;
Posture;
Elderly;
Fatigue;
Ankle
- MeSH:
Aged;
Animals;
Ankle;
Contracts;
Exercise;
Fatigue;
Humans;
Leg;
Muscle Fatigue;
Muscle, Skeletal;
Muscles;
Posture
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2013;37(3):389-395
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of gastrocnemius muscle fatigue on postural control ability in elderly people. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy elderly people participated in this study. The postural control ability of single leg standing was evaluated with Health Improvement & Management System (HIMS) posturography before and after fatiguing exercises. After evaluating initial postural control ability, the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of ankle plantarflexion was assessed using a surface electromyogram from the medial belly of the gastrocnemius muscle. After a 5-minute resting period, subjects began submaximal isometric ankle plantarflexion (40% MVC) until 40% of MVC was dropped below 95% for 5 seconds, or subject couldn't continue working out due to muscle fatigue. And postural control ability was assessed after fatiguing exercise. The mean deviation of center of pressure (COP), length of COP movement, occupied area of COP were measured, and analyzed by paired t-test. RESULTS: Mediolateral deviation, length of COP movement, and area of COP occupied were increased after fatiguing exercise of the gastrocnemius muscle. Anteroposterior deviation and length of COP movement were also increased, but had low statistical significance. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the gastrocnemius muscle fatigue affects mediolateral stability and accuracy during single leg standing in elderly people. Therefore muscle endurance training is necessary to prevent falls in elderly people.
