Binda Susan M, Culham Elsie G, Brouwer Brenda
School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Exp Aging Res. 2003 Apr-Jun;29(2):205-19. doi: 10.1080/03610730303711.
This study examined balance ability, lower-extremity muscle strength, fear of falling and their inter-relationships in 40 community-dwelling older adults (>65 years). Subjects who self-identified either as being fearful of falling or not (no concern) were screened to exclude those with known risk factors for falling. Limits of stability, maximal isometric strength, gait speed, and fear of falling were contrasted between groups (27 control subjects, 13 fearful subjects). Those fearful of falling demonstrated smaller center of pressure (COP) excursions in anterior, left, and right directions (p<.0001) and used a smaller percentage of their base of support during maximal weight shifting in combined anterior-posterior and right-left directions (p<.001) compared to the control group. Strength did not differ between groups, but was associated with the ability to shift the COP in the anterior-posterior direction (p<.05). Fear of falling also related to weight shifting ability (p<.017). Seniors fearful of falling demonstrated limitations in balance ability and balance confidence that could not be explained by muscle weakness.
本研究调查了40名社区居住的老年人（>65岁）的平衡能力、下肢肌肉力量、跌倒恐惧及其相互关系。对自我认定为害怕跌倒或不害怕跌倒（无担忧）的受试者进行筛查，以排除那些已知有跌倒风险因素的人。对比了两组（27名对照受试者，13名害怕跌倒的受试者）之间的稳定性极限、最大等长肌力、步速和跌倒恐惧。与对照组相比，那些害怕跌倒的人在前后、左右方向上的压力中心（COP）偏移较小（p<0.0001），并且在前后和左右联合方向上最大重量转移期间使用的支撑面百分比更小（p<0.001）。两组之间的力量没有差异，但与前后方向上COP的转移能力相关（p<0.05）。跌倒恐惧也与重量转移能力有关（p<0.017）。害怕跌倒的老年人表现出平衡能力和平衡信心方面的局限性，而这些局限性无法用肌肉无力来解释。
