Relationship between Standing Balance and Walking Independence of Elderly Inpatients: Examination of the Weight-bearing Ratio and One-leg Standing Time

Abstract

[Purpose] To investigate the relationships between independent walking, and the weight-bearing ratio (WBR) and one-leg standing time (1LST). [Subjects] The subjects were 241 in-patients aged over 65 years old. [Methods] Patients were divided into 4 WBR groups and 5 1LST groups based on their results. For each of the groups the percentage of independent walking cases was calculated. [Results] In the groups with high WBRs and long 1LSTs there were large numbers of independent walking cases. In the WBR >90% group, all the subjects could walk independently, but there were none in the WBR <70% group. On the other hand, some of the subjects showing difficulty with standing on one leg could walk independently, and these subjects’ WBRs were significantly higher than those of the subjects who could not. [Conclusion] WBR more accurately discriminates walking ability than 1LST.