The Correlation between Physical Fitness, Ankle Dorsi-Flexion Capability, and Falling for the Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between physical fitness, ankle dorsi-flexion capability, and falling for the elderly. Subjects for this study consisted of 151 volunteers at the Seoul “D” senior welfare center. All subjects were above the age of 65. Subjects completed a questionnaire about their experiences falling. Physical fitness was measured utilizing four different techniques. These are rising from one`s chair and sitting after shuttle run 3 meters test to gauge subject`s agility, coordination, and physical fitness, step test to analyze aerobic ability, the single leg balancing with open eye test to evaluate static stability and maximal step length test to see physical fitness and coordination. Ankle dorsi-flexion capability was measured using two tests that are the muscle strength and the range of motion. The resulting showed strong inter-relationships between different physical fitness variables for the non-falling group. Thus, in order to safe guard the elderly against falling, it is important to develop overall body coordination instead of focusing on purely strengthening individual body parts. Therefore, fall-proofing programs should include complex, compound movements in order to increase coordination throughout the entire body.