Abstract
【Purpose】The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between grip strength and walking function, factors of falls, and health-related QOL in one-year change of elderly people at high risk for needing care.
【Methods】A survey of grip strength measurement, walking function, factors of falls, and health-related QOL was conducted among high risk elderly people participating in a care prevention program and needing care who could roam freely. In order to investigate the relationship between falls and muscle strength, we measured grip strength, an index of bodily muscle strength. Walking variables such as stride length, swing speed, knee joint angle, heel joint angle, and knee position were analyzed through gait measurements and an evaluation system. The fall risk index and a fall prevention self-efficacy scale were applied to explain the fall factor. SF-8TM was applied to explain health-related QOL.
【Results】The sample included 20 subjects (male, n = 4; female, n = 16). The average age was 80.7 (±6.4) years. The average baseline value of grip strength was 19.6 (± 6.5) kg, and the change in one year was －0.4 (± 2.1) kg. The relationship between grip strength of subjects and each index in one-year change was analyzed by correlation coefficients. The fall risk index was significantly negatively correlated with grip strength (r =－0.460, p＜0.05). The general health (GH) measure from the SF8 Health Survey (SF-8 TM) was significantly positively correlated with grip strength (r = 0.530, p＜0.05). Stride length and knee position (rear) from gait measurements and the evaluation system were significantly positively correlated with grip strength (r = 0.610, r = 0.540, p＜0.05).
【Conclusion】The results of this study revealed significant correlations between grip strength and stride length, knee position (rear), fall risk index, and general health (GH) in one-year change of elderly people at high risk for needing care.
