Abstract
The probability of a fall -injurious or non injurious- is a limiting factor for the quality of life and the daily activities of the elderly. The concept of fall prediction in the elderly has occupied intensely researchers and health professionals. The aim of the present study was to investigate if variables from isokinetic and isometric strength and power assessment of the lower extremities and variables from postural balance assessment in the elderly population could discriminate fallers from non fallers. The construction of a predictive model based in the assessment variables was also in the interest of the researchers. A sample of convenience was selected from the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki between 2009-2010. The sample consisted of 59 elderly men and women aged 60 years and over with or without a history of falls who were living in the community, with no major health problems. The participants were examined in five concentric and two eccentric angular speeds isokinetically ...
The probability of a fall -injurious or non injurious- is a limiting factor for the quality of life and the daily activities of the elderly. The concept of fall prediction in the elderly has occupied intensely researchers and health professionals. The aim of the present study was to investigate if variables from isokinetic and isometric strength and power assessment of the lower extremities and variables from postural balance assessment in the elderly population could discriminate fallers from non fallers. The construction of a predictive model based in the assessment variables was also in the interest of the researchers. A sample of convenience was selected from the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki between 2009-2010. The sample consisted of 59 elderly men and women aged 60 years and over with or without a history of falls who were living in the community, with no major health problems. The participants were examined in five concentric and two eccentric angular speeds isokinetically and in four different angular positions isometrically in flexion and extension. They were also examined with the portable force plate COMEX® (Loran Engineering Sri Bologna) the questionnaires BBS and POMA and with the mobility and walking capacity tests TUG and FRT. The experimental group of the study followed a strengthening program in the isokinetic dynamometer for eight weeks, with two times a week frequency, for the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. Independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis were performed. All data were analyzed with the SPSS 17.0 statistical package. The results revealed that from the total 158 variances entered in the discriminant analysis, three predictive variables occurred: the mean total work ratio in 60o/sec., the TUG, and the mean eccentric peak torque in 120o/sec., classifying correctly the 94.6% of the elderly in the fallers-non fallers group. The predictive equation which derived was: z= 19.699 (mean total work ratio in 60o/sec.) + 0.255 (TUG) + 0.323 (mean eccentric peak torque in 120o/sec.) – 99.091. Before the intervention program, statistical significant differences (p< .05) between the two groups (fallers/non-fallers) were observed for strength and power measurements, TUG and FR tests, with non-fallers performing better in all examined variables. No statistical significant differences (p> .05) were found for postural balance, POMA and BBS questionnaires. After the final assessment, statistical significant differences (p< .05) occurred for strength and power measurements, TUG and FR tests for the experimental group. No statistical significant differences (p> .05) were observed for postural balance, POMA and BBS questionnaires. After the intervention program no statistical significant differences (p> .05) were observed between fallers-non fallers group, in strength and power measurements, while statistical significant differences (p< .05) were observed in TUG and FR tests. The results of the study indicated that the prediction of falls in elderly population is possible through isokinetic and isometric assessment of the knee joint muscles and that an eight week strengthening program in an isokinetic dynamometer is effective for the improvement of strength of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in elderly people.
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