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.

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LOWER EXTREMITY MUSCLE FORCE PRODUCTION AS AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR FALLS IN COMMUNITY DWELLING EDLERLY FEMALES

Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy ◽

10.1519/00139143-200225030-00045 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Gardner E Wheeler ◽

D Riddle ◽

S Finucane ◽

D Jewell ◽

C Ford-Smith

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Independent Risk Factor ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Force Production ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Muscle Force Production

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Influence of Lower-extremity Muscle Force, Muscle Mass and Asymmetry in Knee Extension Force on Gait Ability in Community-dwelling Elderly Women

Journal of Physical Therapy Science ◽

10.1589/jpts.18.73 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 73-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Hayato Nakao ◽

Takahiro Yoshikawa ◽

Tatsuya Mimura ◽

Taketaka Hara ◽

Katsuo Nishimoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Extension Force

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Long-term participation in community group exercise improves lower extremity muscle strength and delays age-related declines in walking speed and physical function in older adults

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s11556-021-00260-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chisato Hayashi ◽

Soshiro Ogata ◽

Tadashi Okano ◽

Hiromitsu Toyoda ◽

Sonoe Mashino

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Physical Function ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Group Exercise ◽

Community Based ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

Abstract Background The effects of group exercise on the physical function of community-dwelling older adults remain unclear. The changes in lower extremity muscle strength, timed up and go (TUG) time, and the motor fitness scale (MFS), over time, among older adults who expressed a willingness to participate in community-based physical exercise groups, were determined using multilevel modelling. Methods We analyzed data of 2407 older adults between April 2010 and December 2019 from the registry of physical tests of community-based physical exercise groups. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the effect of physical exercise on lower extremity muscle strength, TUG time, and MFS scores. The durations of the exercises were evaluated by frequency of physical test’s participate. Results A deterioration in lower extremity muscle strength was found in the short-term participant group only. However, in the mid-term and long-term participation groups, lower extremity muscle strength showed a trend of improvement. The TUG time and the MFS score were negatively correlated with increasing age in both groups divided by the duration of participation. However, there was a slower rate of deterioration in the long-term participation group. Discussion Lower extremity muscle strength, TUG time, and MFS scores decline with increasing age and there were differences in the slope of deterioration that depended on the duration of participation in community-based group exercise. Conclusion Participation in group exercise improved lower extremity muscle strength, TUG time, and MFS scores of older adults living in a community. The positive effects of group exercise were dependent on long-term participation.

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Tai Chi training’s effect on lower extremity muscle co-contraction during single- and dual-task gait: Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0242963 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0242963

Author(s):

Peter M. Wayne ◽

Brian J. Gow ◽

Fengzhen Hou ◽

Yan Ma ◽

Jeffrey M. Hausdorff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Postural Control ◽

Usual Care ◽

Randomized Trial ◽

Dual Task ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

Background Tai Chi (TC) mind-body exercise has been shown to reduce falls and improve balance and gait, however, few studies have evaluated the role of lower extremity muscle activation patterns in the observed benefits of TC on mobility. Purpose To perform an exploratory analysis of the association between TC training and levels of lower extremity muscle co-contraction in healthy adults during walking under single-task (ST) and cognitive dual-task (DT) conditions. Methods Surface electromyography of the anterior tibialis and lateral gastrocnemius muscles was recorded during 90 sec trials of overground ST (walking normally) and DT (walking with verbalized serial subtractions) walking. A mean co-contraction index (CCI), across all strides, was calculated based on the percentage of total muscle activity when antagonist muscles were simultaneously activated. A hybrid study design investigated long-term effects of TC via a cross-sectional comparison of 27 TC experts and 60 age-matched TC-naïve older adults. A longitudinal comparison assessed the shorter-term effects of TC; TC-naïve participants were randomly allocated to either 6 months of TC training or to usual care. Results Across all participants at baseline, greater CCI was correlated with slower gait speed under DT (β(95% CI) = -26.1(-48.6, -3.7)) but not ST (β(95% CI) = -15.4(-38.2, 7.4)) walking. Linear models adjusting for age, gender, BMI and other factors that differed at baseline indicated that TC experts exhibited lower CCI compared to TC naives under DT, but not ST conditions (ST: mean difference (95% CI) = -7.1(-15.2, 0.97); DT: mean difference (95% CI) = -10.1(-18.1, -2.4)). No differences were observed in CCI for TC-naive adults randomly assigned to 6 months of TC vs. usual care. Conclusion Lower extremity muscle co-contraction may play a role in the observed benefit of longer-term TC training on gait and postural control. Longer-duration and adequately powered randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effect of TC on neuromuscular coordination and its impact on postural control. Trial registration The randomized trial component of this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01340365).

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Estimation of Human Lower-Extremity Muscle Force Under Uncertainty While Rising from a Chair

Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A ◽

10.3795/ksme-a.2014.38.10.1147 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (10) ◽

pp. 1147-1155

Author(s):

Young Nam Jo ◽

Moon Jeong Kang ◽

Je Wook Chae ◽

Hong Hee Yoo

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

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The Authors Comment: Conference on “The Influence of Lower-Extremity Muscle Force on Gait Characteristics…”

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/76.5.537 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 76 (5) ◽

pp. 537-538

Author(s):

Christopher M Powers ◽

Lara Boyd ◽

Catherine A Fontaine ◽

Jacquelin Perry

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Gait Characteristics ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle

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Musculoskeletal Strength, Balance Performance, and Self-Efficacy in Elderly Ving Tsun Chinese Martial Art Practitioners: Implications for Fall Prevention

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/402314 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shirley S. M. Fong ◽

Shamay S. M. Ng ◽

Karen P. Y. Liu ◽

Marco Y. C. Pang ◽

H. W. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Strength ◽

Fall Prevention ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Balance Confidence ◽

Functional Balance ◽

Martial Art

Objectives.To (1) compare the bone strength, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy between Ving Tsun (VT) martial art practitioners and nonpractitioners and (2) identify the associations between lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy among the VT-trained participants.Methods.Thirty-five VT practitioners (mean age ± SD = 62.7 ± 13.3 years) and 49 nonpractitioners (mean age ± SD = 65.9 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study. The bone strength of the distal radius, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy were assessed using an ultrasound bone sonometer, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and the Chinese version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale, respectively. A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to compare all the outcome variables between the two groups.Results.Elderly VT practitioners had higher radial bone strength on the dominant side(P<0.05), greater lower limb muscular strength(P=0.001), better functional balance performance(P=0.003), and greater balance confidence(P<0.001)than the nonpractitioners. Additionally, only the FTSTS time revealed a significant association with the BBS score(r=-0.575, P=0.013).Conclusions.VT may be a suitable health-maintenance exercise for the elderly. Our findings may inspire the development of VT fall-prevention exercises for the community-dwelling healthy elderly.

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