P-2-14-01
Examination of the muscle strength in the lower extremities for the independent walking in the elderly.
I. Kawano, Y. Asakawa, T. Ikezoe, K. Hazaki (Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan)
This study examined the relationship between muscle strength in the lower extremities and walking in activities of daily living in elderly. Thirty-four elderly women over 65 years old who live in a home for aged were studied. Eight muscles of the lower extremities were evaluated. Walking was scored using the moving section in the Functional Independence Measure (F.I.M) and they were divided into the independent and dependent group. There were differences statistically between two groups in seven muscles except for hip flexor. And the discriminatory criterion was indicated by analysis of diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. The results were shown in below table. We consider that the muscle strength is one of the factor for independent walking, and the elderly should maintain these levels of muscle strength to retain independence.
The discriminatory criterion of muscle strength (N.m/kg)
P-2-14-02
SINGLE-LEG STANDING TEST IN ELDERLY LIVING IN 2 DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT
Naoshi Nishimura, Takayuki Fujiwara, Teiji Kimura, Masayoshi Ohira, Goh Ah Cheng, Ryuya Yanagihashi (Shinshu University, Matusmoto, Japan)
Eyes-closed single leg standing (SLS) test, has been reported as a simple clinical measure of balance, aging and fall in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of SLS test.
The subjects were 150 elderly healthy women (age-60-90 years), consisted of 2 groups (care mansion versus independent home dwellers), derived from a sample of 600 who were investigated during a physical performance trial. SLS test and Quadriceps muscle strength (QS) were measured. The distribution pattern of duration of SLS test showed a deviation to the left, and the significant break point of duration of SLS test in age was observed to occur around the sixties age group. The median duration by the various age groups were 3.8 secs. (sixties), 2.5 secs. (seventies), 1.5 secs. (eighties). Although a negative correlation with age was observed in both groups, the tendency to decrease was more steep in the care mansion dwellers group. A significant correlation was found between SLS test and QS for the independent home dwellers (r=0.204, p=0.012) and the care mansion dwellers group (r=0.429, p=0.001).
Further studies should be carried out to investigate other related factors such as motor control, sensation, cognition, and environmental factors in the healthy elderly, as well as the effects of disease processes and medication on the sick elderly.
