Abstract
In this research, an evaluation equipment (toe grasp power measuring equipment and toe motor function measuring equipment) which quantitatively measured the toe function was developed. It measured twice by having changed time into the same subjects (n = 27), and the reproducibility of measurement apparatus was examined. Next, the relevance to toe function and physical performance ability for grasping power, knee extension muscle strength, 10 m walking time, center of foot pressure in static standing, and dynamic balancing when unstable board was used was examined for older people (n = 168). 168 persons were divided into the fallers and non-fallers groups from the medical history in the past, and comparison examination of toe grasp power and toe motor function was carried out. In addition, in order to examine the effectiveness of toe motion training for preventing falls, comparison examination of the effect was performed between the training group (n = 23) and the control group (n = 15). The training group trained 8 weeks using the toe functional training equipment. Results were as follows.
1:The measuring equipment showed the reliability and high reproducibility for measuring toe grasp power and toe motor function, and could objectively evaluate the toe function.
2:In the fallers group, the toe grasp force was significantly inferior than the non-fallers group.
3:A toe grasp force exerted a correlation with grasping power, toe motor function, knee extension muscle strength, dynamic balance, and the 10 m walking time. A toe motor function showed a correlation with grasp force, toe grasp force, dynamic balancing, knee extension muscle force, and the 10 m wa1king time.
4:In the training group, there was an improvement in dynamic balance and the knee extension muscle strength.
From the above results, toe function is important from the viewpoints of a physical performance and a fall. It was also suggested that a toe function training may be simple and effective for preventing falls.
