Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which measures of foot and ankle strength,
range of motion, posture, and deformity are associated with performance in a
battery of balance and functional ability tests in older adults. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional study of people over 65 years. SETTING: Community.
Participants (N=305; age range, 65-93y) recruited for a randomized trial
investigating the efficacy of a podiatry intervention to prevent falls.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical measures of foot
and ankle strength (using hand-held dynamometry), range of motion, posture, and
deformity, and a battery of balance tests (postural sway, maximum balance range,
lateral stability, coordinated stability) and functional ability tests (alternate
step test, sit-to-stand, timed 6-m walk). RESULTS: Most (67/88) of the
correlations between the foot and ankle tests and performance on the balance and
functional tests were statistically significant. Hierarchic linear regression
analysis identified hallux plantar flexion strength and ankle inversion-eversion
range of motion to be the most consistent significant and independent predictors
of balance and functional test performance, explaining up to 25% of the variance
in the test scores. CONCLUSIONS: Foot and ankle characteristics, particularly
plantar flexor strength of the hallux and ankle inversion-eversion range of
motion, are important determinants of balance and functional ability in older
people. Further research is required to establish whether intervention programs
that include strengthening and stretching exercises for the foot and ankle may
achieve improvements in balance and functional ability and reduce the risk of
falls in older people.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS