Ankle Dorsiflexors Strength Improves Balance Performance in Elderly: A Corelational Study.

Abstract

The physical ability to maintain balance when moving and the ability to move independently are central requisites for independent living and are thus two important focuses in geriatric rehabilitation. It has been suggested that a decrease in the ability to generate force in the lower extremity muscles contribute to balance impairment and falling. The purpose of this study was to detect balance performance response to improved strength of dorsiflexors muscles in elderly. Fifty healthy elderly subjects, their age ranged 65-75 years, participated in this study. Twenty five subjects (training group) were trained with resisted exercises plus electrical nerve stimulation of ankle dorsiflexors muscles, three times a week for 8 weeks. The control group, included twenty five subjects, received no treatment intervention except encouragement for performing their usual activity of daily living over the 8 weeks of the study. The ankle dorsiflexors muscles force was measured by the hand held dynamometer in Kg and the balance control was measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and the Timed Get Up-Go Test (GUG). These measurements wevr5re applied for both groups before and after 8 weeks. The BBS, FRT and GUG values showed significant changes (12.9%, 35.7% and 51.9% respectively) following training in the trained group. There were no significant changes (0.67%, 6.95% and 14.4%) in the same measures of the control group after 8 weeks. Improved ankle dorsiflexors strength enhances balance performance in elderly

Keywords

• Balance, ankle dorsiflexors strength, resisted exercises, electrical nerve stimulation, elderly

Ankle Dorsiflexors Strength Improves Balance Performance in Elderly: A Corelational Study.

Öz

Hareket sırasında dengeyi sağlama fiziksel yeteneği ve bağımsız hareket etme yeteneği bağımsız yaşamak için ana gerekliliklerdir ve geriatrik tıbbın iki önemli odak noktasıdır. İleri sürülmüştür ki, alt eksremite kaslarında kuvvet oluşturma yeteneğindeki düşüş denge bozukluğu ve düşmeye neden olmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı yaşlılarda dorsifleksör kaslarda yapılan kuvvet geliştirmeye karşı denge performansı değişimini araştırmaktı. Elli sağlıklı yaşlı birey, yaşları 65-75 arasında değişen, çalışmaya alındı. Yirmi beş bireye (egzersiz grubu) 8 hafta, haftada 3 kez direnç egzersizi artı ayak bileği dorsifleksör kaslara elektrik sinir uyası uygulandı. Yirmi beş kişiden oluşan kontrol grubuna çalışma süresi olan 8 hafta boyunca rutin günlük yaşam aktivitelerini yapmaya teşvik dışında herhangi bir tedavi girişimi uygulanmadı. Ayak bileği dorsifleksör kas gücü kg olarak elle tutulan dinamometre ile ölçüldü ve denge kontrolü Berg denge Skalası (BDS). Fonksiyonel Reach Testi (FRT) ve Timed Get up Go Test (GUG) testi ile ölçüldü. Bu ölçümler her iki gruba başlangıçta ve 8 hafta sonra uygulandı. Çalışma grubunda çalışmayı takiben BDS, FRT ve GUG değerlerinde belirgin değişiklik görüldü (sırasıyla %12.9 %35.7 ve %51.9%). Sekiz hafta sonunda kontrol grubunun aynı ölçüm değerlerinde belirgin değişiklik görülmedi (%0.67, %6.95 ve %14.4). Artırılmış ayak bileği dorsifleksör kuvveti yaşlılarda denge performansını geliştirir

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Denge, ayak bileği dorsifleksör kuvveti, direnç egzersizi, elektrik sinir uyarısı, yaşlı

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