Pain, lower-extremity muscle strength, and physical function among older Mexican Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between pain on weight bearing, lower-extremity muscle strength, and physical function among older Mexican Americans.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Five Southwestern states: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California.


METHODS
A population-based sample of 544 noninstitutionalized Mexican-American men and women age 71 years and older.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Pain on weight bearing, lower-extremity muscle strength, and physical function.


RESULTS
Of the 544 subjects, 244 (44.9%) reported pain on weight bearing. Mean muscle strength in men ranged from 9.3 kg for knee extension, 12.8 kg for hip flexion, to 13.0 kg for hip abduction. In women, mean strength ranged from 6.6 kg for knee extension, 9.5 kg for hip flexion, to 8.6 kg for hip abduction. Mean of physical function score was 70.7 for men and 60.6 for women. Pain on weight bearing was negatively associated with summary lower-extremity muscle strength only in women (-.05, P < .001) after controlling for all covariates. Pain on weight bearing was negatively associated with physical function in both men (-15.33, P < .001) and women (-11.03, P < .001), and lower-extremity muscle strength was positively associated with physical function in both men (37.77, P < .001) and women (73.50, P < .001), after controlling for all covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
Among older Mexican Americans, the presence of pain was associated with decreased muscle strength in women and decreased physical function in both men and women. High muscle strength was associated with high physical function in both men and women.
Al Snih
Soham
S
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0460, USA. soalsnih@utmb.edu
Raji
Mukaila A
MA
Peek
M Kristen
MK
Ottenbacher
Kenneth J
KJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology