The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Range of Motion in Lower Extremity, and Balance and Risk of Falling in the Elderly

Background: The present study examined the relationship between muscle strength and range of motion in the lower extremity, and balance and risk of falling in the elderly. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy elderly (mean±SD age: 65.64±4.95 y) in Rasht City, Iran. The study participants were 65 healthy male elderly who met the stud inclusion criteria. They were selected by convenience sampling method. In this study, to measure static and dynamic balance, Sharpened Romberg and Get Up and Go tests were performed, respectively. The falling risk was measured by the Berg Balance Scale. Moreover, the maximum isometric force of the muscle groups in the lower extremities was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, and the range of motion was calculated by a goniometer. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics by SPSS. Results: The present study results demonstrated that muscle strength of hip extension, hip abduction, hamstring, quadriceps, and ankle plantarflexion had a significant relationship with static balance while being negatively related to dynamic balance (P≤0.05). The obtained data also indicated a significant and negative relationship between the muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance and the risk of falling (P≤0.05). We also detected a positive and significant relationship between the range of motion of hip extension, knee flexion, plantar flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion, and static balance; however, there was a negative and significant relationship between these variables, and dynamic balance and the risk of falling (P≤0.05). Conclusion: It seems that the muscle strength hip abduction, hip extensions, hamstring, quadriceps, plantar flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and the range of motion hip extension, knee flexion, ankle plantar flexion, and dorsiflexion were effective in maintaining balance and fall risk in the studied elderly.