Premium
The Relationship of Knee and Ankle Weakness to Falls in Nursing Home Residents: An Isokinetic Study
Author(s) -
Whipple R. H.,
Wolfson L. I.,
Amerman P. M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1987.tb01313.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ankle , weakness , balance (ability) , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , nursing homes , knee flexion , plantar flexion , lower limb , surgery , nursing
The strength of the knees and ankles of a group of nursing home residents with a history of falls was compared to age‐matched controls. Peak torque (PT) and power (POW) were recorded at two limb velocities (60°/s and 220°s) on a Cybex II Isokinetic dynamometer for four muscle groups: knee extensors, knee flexors, ankle plantar flexors and ankle dorsiflexors. The PT and POW of falters were significantly decreased for all four muscle groups in comparison to controls, with the ankles showing the greatest decrements. Although POW in fullers was significantly lower at the higher velocity in both joints, the decrease was most prominent in the ankles. Dorsiflexion POW production in falters was the most affected of all the motions (7.5 times less than the control value). At the higher, more functional limb velocities, ankle weakness particularly involving the dorsiflexors appears to be an important factor underlying poor balance.