A Relationship between Spinal Deformity and Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Community-Dwelling Elderly Females

Objective: To investigate whether lower limb muscle strength could be a risk factor for the first fall among nonfaller community-dwelling older adults. Method: Hip, knee, and ankle peak torque (PT) was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer in 101 older adults with no history of falls in the previous year. Next, the authors followed up the participants on a monthly basis by telephone contact to determine the occurrence of fall episodes over a period of 1 year. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables was applied to assess the relationship between falls and lower limb PT. Results: there was no association between lower limb PT and future falls ( p > .05). Conclusion: Based on these results, it is important to identify other factors that predispose older adults with no history of falls to falling for the first time, so that early and effective preventive strategies may be elaborated.

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Clinical Screening for Lower Limb Muscle Weakness in Community-Dwelling Older Women

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.742 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 230-230

Author(s):

Daniela Abreu ◽

Jaqueline Porto

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Older Women ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Peak Torque ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Step Test ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Small Magnitude ◽

Clinical Screening

Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of the five times sit to stand test (5TSST), grip strength (GS) and step test (ST) to detect older women with reduced lower-limb muscle strength (LLMS), and to investigate the clinical usefulness of the combination of such tests. One hundred and nineteen older women were submitted to the 5TSST, GS, ST and lower limb peak torque by an isokinetic dynamometer. The capacity of the clinical tests to detect older women with reduced LLMS was measured using the ROC curve, followed by calculation of posttest probability (PoTP). The results show that a ST score of 0.24 cm per cm of participant’s height shows the best PoTP for a positive test (72%). However, the combination of the ST and 5TSST enhances the accuracy from 48% (prevalence of weakness in the population) to 82.6% if both tests are positive, and decreases the PoTP from 48% to 11.4% if both tests are negative. The inclusion of GS provided additional benefits of small magnitude. In conclusion, the ST performed alone or in combination with 5TSST could be an alternative for clinical screening of LLMS reduction in older women. The early identification of impairment of lower-limb muscle strength in independent older adults may favor early intervention and prevention of negative outcomes such as falls and functional limitations.

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Falls, muscle strength, and functional abilities in community-dwelling elderly women

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/1980-5918.030.002.ao16 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 357-366

Author(s):

Viviane Santos Borges ◽

Nayara Santos Silva ◽

Ariana Cristina Malta ◽

Nathália Cristina Xavier ◽

Lorene Elka Santana Bernardes

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Knee Extensors ◽

Functional Abilities ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Plantar Flexors

Abstract Introduction: Falls are among the most common and serious problems facing elderly women. Falling is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, reduced functioning, loss of independence and hospitalization. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association among fear of falling, muscle strength, and functional abilities in community-dwelling elderly women. Methods: Forty-nine elderly women (70.57 ± 5.59 years) participated in this study. Records of falls, self-efficacy associated with falls (FES-I Brazil), functional abilities (the Timed Up and Down Stairs test [TUDS] and the Timed Up and Go test [TUG]), lower limb muscle strength (knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors), and hand grip strength were investigated as variables of interest. Descriptive statistics, the one-way ANOVA, and linear regression tests were used to analyze the association between fear of falling and falls with other variables (α = 0.05). Results: Elderly women who presented records of falls within the last year had lesser strength of knee extensors and plantar flexors (p ≤. 05). Those who had low self-efficacy associated with falls presented lower strength of knee extensors (p ≤. 01). Variables associated with functional abilities (r = 0.70) and lower limb strength (r = 0.53) showed a positive correlation (p ≤. 01). Conclusion: The concern with the fear of falling and falls may be negative effects caused by lower limb muscle weakness.

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