Relationships between the Lower Limb Muscle Strength of the Dominant and Non-dominant Legs and Static Balance and the Functional Reach Test in Community-dwelling Older Adults

• Published in: Rigaku ryoho kagaku Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 14 - 18
• Main Author: MATSUNO, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2023; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: dominant leg; Functional Reach Test; Legs; Muscle strength; Older people; toe grip strength
• ISSN: 1341-1667; 2434-2807
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.38.14

[Purpose] We investigated the relationship between the lower limb muscle strength of the dominant and non-dominant legs and static balance and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) in community-dwelling older adults. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 15 older adults. Static balance was assessed by measuring the foot center sway index and the time to hold a one-leg standing posture. The FRT was used to evaluate dynamic balance. The quadriceps muscle strength and toe grip strength of the dominant and non-dominant legs were measured to evaluate lower limb muscle strength. [Results] A significant positive correlation was found between the toe grip strength of the dominant leg and FRT, but no significant correlation was found between the toe grip strength of the non-dominant leg and FRT. There was no significant correlation between quadriceps strength of the dominant leg and FRT, but there was a significant correlation between quadriceps strength of the non-dominant leg and FRT. [Conclusion] The results suggest that it is important to pay attention to the toe grip strength of the dominant leg and the quadriceps strength of the non-dominant leg as physical functions related to FRT of community-dwelling older adults.