Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lower limb loading force and independence of transfer activity as well as the effect of lower limb disability. [Subjects] The subjects were 35 elderly patients in long-term care: 16 males, 19 females, average age 79.7 ± 10.1. [Method] The subjects' level of independence in transfer activity was classified into 3 groups based on Functional Independence Measure scores, and lower limb disability was classified as unilateral or bilateral based on medical records as well as information from the patient's therapist. We calculated the lower limb loading force to body weight ratio as a percentage and compared it with level of independence in transfer activity and lower limb disability as factors in two-way analysis of variance, and a multiple comparison test. [Results] A significant difference was found in transfer activity between the Independent and Assistance groups, but a significant main effect was not found for the disability side. [Conclusion] Lower limb loading force is reflected in transfer activity ability, and the results suggest that the measurement of lower limb loading force can even be applied to elderly patients in long-term care suffering from a variety of diseases.
