Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Department of Podiatry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Jan;92(1):68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.09.024.
To determine the extent to which measures of foot and ankle strength, range of motion, posture, and deformity are associated with performance in a battery of balance and functional ability tests in older adults.
Cross-sectional study of people over 65 years.
Community.
Participants (N=305; age range, 65-93y) recruited for a randomized trial investigating the efficacy of a podiatry intervention to prevent falls.
Not applicable.
Clinical measures of foot and ankle strength (using hand-held dynamometry), range of motion, posture, and deformity, and a battery of balance tests (postural sway, maximum balance range, lateral stability, coordinated stability) and functional ability tests (alternate step test, sit-to-stand, timed 6-m walk).
Most (67/88) of the correlations between the foot and ankle tests and performance on the balance and functional tests were statistically significant. Hierarchic linear regression analysis identified hallux plantar flexion strength and ankle inversion-eversion range of motion to be the most consistent significant and independent predictors of balance and functional test performance, explaining up to 25% of the variance in the test scores.
Foot and ankle characteristics, particularly plantar flexor strength of the hallux and ankle inversion-eversion range of motion, are important determinants of balance and functional ability in older people. Further research is required to establish whether intervention programs that include strengthening and stretching exercises for the foot and ankle may achieve improvements in balance and functional ability and reduce the risk of falls in older people.
确定足部和踝关节力量、运动范围、姿势和畸形的测量值与老年人平衡和功能能力测试中表现的相关程度。
对 65 岁以上人群进行的横断面研究。
社区。
参加预防跌倒的足病干预随机试验的参与者（N=305；年龄范围 65-93 岁）。
不适用。
足部和踝关节力量的临床测量（使用手持测力计）、运动范围、姿势和畸形，以及一系列平衡测试（姿势摆动、最大平衡范围、侧向稳定性、协调稳定性）和功能能力测试（交替步测试、坐站、6 米定时行走）。
足部和踝关节测试与平衡和功能测试之间的大多数（67/88）相关性具有统计学意义。层次线性回归分析确定了跖屈肌力量和踝关节内翻-外翻运动范围是平衡和功能测试表现最一致和独立的预测因素，可解释测试得分中高达 25%的差异。
足部和踝关节特征，特别是大脚趾跖屈肌力量和踝关节内翻-外翻运动范围，是老年人平衡和功能能力的重要决定因素。需要进一步研究以确定是否包括足部和踝关节强化和伸展运动的干预计划可以改善平衡和功能能力并降低老年人跌倒的风险。
