Combined effects of knee extension strength, visual acuity, and knee-joint pain on older women’s gait

Tomohiro Demura,Shinichi Demura

doi:10.4236/health.2013.53060

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the combined effects of knee extension strength (KES), visual acuity (VA), and knee joint pain (KP) on gait in 212 older women. Including, walking speed, cadence, were selected as gait parameters. Knee extension strength was measured by isometric knee extension strength, while knee joint pain and decreased visual acuity were evaluated by subjective judgment. The combine effect of KP and KES factors was examined. Stance time was significantly longer in persons with both-KP than in persons with no KP. In addition, people with superior KES had significantly greater values in walking speed, cadence, and step length, and lower values in stance time and walking angle than those with inferior KES. Furthermore, double support time showed that persons with both-KP have significantly greater values than persons with no or one-KP in the inferior KES group. Also, persons with the inferior KES had significantly greater values in persons with both-KP. The combine effect of KES and VA factors was examined. There are significant differences between the superior and the inferior KES groups. In conclusion, the elderly with both the factors of decreasing KES and both-KP, as compared to the elderly with just one of those factors, have markedly different gait properties.

Highlights

The elderly population in Japan has greatly increased, resulting in a greater interest in the health problems of the elderly
This study aimed to examine the combined effects of knee extension strength, visual acuity, and knee joint pain on gait in elderly women
Because a significant difference was found in body weight, analysis of covariance was used

Summary

Introduction

The elderly population in Japan has greatly increased, resulting in a greater interest in the health problems of the elderly. Risk factors for falls include advanced age (aged 80 years or older), an abnormal gait, a decrease in balance ability, cognitive impairment, and/or a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease [3]. Falls occur mostly while walking; walking is one of the fundamental daily living activities that has been frequently studied. The following changes in walking occur as a person ages: a decrease in walking speed [4,5], a change in the ratio of single leg and double leg support times in the total contact time [6], and a decreased step length [6]. A person’s gait has been used as an indicator for predicting the risk of disease and death among the elderly [8]

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Conclusion