Effect of Lower Limb Strength on Falls and Balance of the Elderly.
10.5535/arm.2012.36.3.386
- Author:
Kang Hee CHO
1
;
Soo Kyung BOK
;
Young Jae KIM
;
Seon Lyul HWANG
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-721, Korea. yjsjk214@cnuh.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Elderly;
Fall;
Lower limb strength;
Balance
- MeSH:
Aged;
Humans;
Lower Extremity;
Mass Screening;
New York;
Self-Assessment;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2012;36(3):386-393
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of lower limb strength on falls and balance in community-dwelling elderly persons by a health status questionnaire, evaluation of lower limb strength and balance. METHOD: A total of 86 subjects (age 69.8+/-5.3) were categorized into one of two groups, "Fallers" and "Non-fallers". Thirty one participants who had reported the experience of having fallen unexpectedly at least once in the past year were assigned into the group "Fallers", and the remaining 55 subjects having no fall history in the past year, "Non-fallers". A self-assessment questionnaire was taken. Lower limb strength was measured by a "Chair stand test". Balance was measured by the stability index of the fall risk test protocol of Balance System SD(R) (Biodex, New York, USA). The differences between the two groups were compared and the correlation between lower limb strength and balance were analyzed. RESULTS: The questionnaire demonstrated no significant differences between two groups. The "Chair stand test" showed a significantly less for the "Fallers" (p<0.05). The stability index was significantly greater in the "Fallers" group (p<0.05). There was a moderate negative correlation between the "Chair stand test" and the "Stability index" (R=-0.576, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the "Chair stand test" is a useful screening process for lower limb strength which correlates to risk for falls and balance in the elderly.
