@article{ref1,
title="Fall risk assessment and knee extensor muscle activity in elderly people",
journal="Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi",
year="2008",
author="Oya, Yukiko and Nakamura, Mitunobu and Tabata, Emi and Morizono, Ryo and Mori, Shinjiro and Kimuro, Yukari and Horikawa, Etsuo",
volume="45",
number="3",
pages="308-314",
abstract="PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze relationships between the history of falls, tripping, sway, and knee extensor muscle strengths as a tool for fall risk assessment in elderly people. We examined effective fall prevention measures. METHODS: We investigated 102 elderly volunteers in the community. The subjects were classified according to history of falls, tripping, sway and 5 performance tests conducted to assess fall risk including Timed up-and-go test (TUG), Functional Reach test (FR), Hand grip and Reaction time (RT). In addition, the time serial data of the knee extensor muscle strength were acquired using a hand-held dynamometer. RESULTS: In comparison to the non-faller group, the faller group showed a significantly higher incident rate of tripping and sway. A frequency analysis using the Maximum Entropy Method revealed that the fallers group showed lower peak frequency (p=0.025). Also, the slope of the logarithmical spectrum was less steep in the fallers group (p=0.035). Also results from analysis of the peak force latency from the beginning of measurement to 50%, 80%, and 100% muscle strength, also showed that the faller group took more time for maximal voluntary contraction. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency analysis of the time series date of peak force latency of knee extensor muscle strength revealed that the muscle activity differs in faller compared to non-fallers. This study suggested that knee extensor muscle isometric performance could possibly be used as a new tool for fall risk assessment. We concluded that exercises to raise maximal muscle strength and muscle response speed are useful for the prevention of falls.<p /> <p>Language: ja</p>",
language="ja",
issn="0300-9173",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}