Age-dependent changes in physical performance in community dwelling elderly women. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aging process is accompanied by a gradual and sustained loss of physical abilities which leads to a progressive muscle weakness with important consequences for daily living especially in women. This study aimed was to analyze the differences by ages in dynamic balance and lower limb strength in community-dwelling women, and secondly to assess the differences in dynamic balance scores and lower limb strength between fallers and non-fallers in community-dwelling women. A total of 1025 community-dwelling women were recruited for the study. The sample were divided into six groups based on age: G1, from 60-65 yrs. (n=282); G2, from 66-70 yrs. (n=178); G3, from 71-75 yrs. (n=108); G4 from 76-80 yrs. (n=397); G5 from 81-85 yrs. (n=51) and G6, from 86-90 yrs. (n=9). The number of falls during the last year were also recorded. Significant differences were found in Sit to stand test (STS) and Timed up and go test (TUG) scores among age groups (p≤0.05). Additionally, poorer scores were found between fallers than non-fallers group (p≤0.05) both in STS and TUG test. Physical fitness performance decline as age group increase, and this decline is more striking after 70 years in community dwelling elderly women. In addition, faller elderly women show poorer scores in TUG and STS than non-fallers, reinforcing the idea that lower limb muscle strength and dynamic balance play an important role in falls in elderly women. Key words: Aging, Functional mobility, Falls, timed up and go, sit to stand