Muscle Strength of Lower Extremities Related to Incident Falls in Community- Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Aim: In order to propose rehabilitation strategies for the reduction of falls risk, thereby preventing falls in older adults, the present study aimed to examine the associations between muscle strength of lower extremities and actual incidence of falls during the 24 weeks follow-up period. Methods: Ninety-nine patients who were attending geriatric outpatient clinic participated and were subjected for analysis. All participants were assessed their physical performances using Motor Fitness Scale and Timed Up and Go test. Muscle strengths of lower extremities were also measured. Incident falls of the participants during the 24 weeks follow-up period were recorded. Results: A binary logistic stepwise regression analysis incorporating all the possible variables into the model revealed that sex (being female) was predictive of frequent falls. Based on the results, the subgroup analysis focusing only on female participants (9 multiple fallers and 49 non-multiple fallers) was carried out using the same definition used in the initial analysis. The results indicated that no lower muscle strengths explained the number of falls in non-multiple fallers, whereas in multiple fallers, plantar flexor muscle strength significantly predicted incident falls during the observation period. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that a standard assessment of muscle strength is a useful component in the risk assessment of falls in a sample of community-dwelling older patients. In particular ankle plantar flexor muscle strength was confirmed to be a predictor of falls in older female patients, therefore might be crucial in considering effective rehabilitation program to prevent falls.