Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess muscle strength in the knee extensors, knee flexors and
ankle dorsiflexors in persons with late effects of polio, and determine how much
muscle strength, gender, age and BMI are related to gait performance. METHODS:
Ninety community-dwelling ambulant persons (47 men and 43 women; mean age 64
years SD 8) with late effects of polio participated. Isokinetic concentric knee
extensor and flexor muscle strength was measured at 60 degrees /s and ankle
dorsiflexor muscle strength at 30 degrees /s. Gait performance was assessed by
the Timed "Up & Go", the Comfortable and Fast Gait Speed tests, and the 6-Minute
Walk test. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between knee extensor and
flexor muscle strength and gait performance (p < 0.01), and between ankle
dorsiflexor muscle strength and gait performance (p < 0.05), for both lower
limbs. Muscle strength in the knee extensors and flexors explained 7% to 37% and
9% to 47%, respectively, of the variance in gait performance. Strength in the
ankle dorsiflexors explained 4% to 24%, whereas gender, age and BMI contributed
at most an additional 9%. CONCLUSION: Knee muscle strength, and to some extent
ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength, are predictors of gait performance in persons
with late effects of polio, but the strength of the relationships indicates that
other factors are also important.

Langue : ANGLAIS