Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the weight-bearing index (WBI) of lower limb muscle strength and motor function. [Subjects] The subjects were 50 community-dwelling elderly people. [Methods] The muscle strengths of knee extensors, hip abductors, and hip extensors were measured. The motor functions evaluated included walking, climbing stairs, and activities of daily living (ADL). Correlation between the muscle strengths and motor functions were investigated. [Results] The cutoff values (kgf/kg) required to be able to walk independently were 0.27 for knee extensors and 0.22 for hip abductors; for climbing stairs, the cutoff value was 0.27 for knee extensors, and the values for ADL were 0.30 for knee extensors and 0.14 for hip extensors. [Conclusion] Knee extensor and hip abductor strengths were closely related to walking ability. Knee extensor strength was also closely related to climbing stairs, and knee extensor and hip extensor strength were closely related to ADL.
