Relationship between static balance ability and lower limb muscle strength in community-living elderly women with differing physiques.­

Fall prevention training­

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between static balance ability and lower limb muscle strength in elderly people of differing body mass index. One-hundred and fifty-two elderly female individuals, aged over 75 yrs., were divided into three groups: the low weight group (BMI≦20 kg/m²), normal weight group (20<BMI <25 kg/m²), and obese group (BMI≧25 kg/m² group). We measured the unipedal standing time with eyes open as static balance ability, and the force generated by foot-gripping and isometric knee extension as lower limb muscle strength. The low weight group demonstrated a significantly longer unipedal standing time (32.5 ±32.4 sec.) than both the normal weight (19.2±18.0 sec.) and obese (12.9±15.5 sec.) groups. A significant correlation between the unipedal standing time and relative foot-gripping force (strength to body weight) was observed in the low weight group and the normal weight group. On the other hand, the relative knee extension force (strength to body weight) and unipedal standing time was only significantly correlated in the normal weight group. These findings suggest that the contribution of leg muscle strength to static balance ability in elderly individuals is affected by physique.