title: Correlations between postural stability and strength of lower body extremities of women population living in long-term care facilities.
abstract: The present study was aimed at analyzing correlation between strength of lower body extremities and postural stability in function of age. A pool of 180 women divided into 6 age groups (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89 and 90-94 years) was examined. They all were informed-consent participants. The results suggest that age is negatively correlated with lower body strength and positively correlated with decrease of postural balance. There is also an exponential correlation between the strength of lower body part and postural balance. The conclusion was derived that postural stability is at least partially controlled by the strength of lower body. The age of 75 in women population seems to be a threshold above which the neurodegenerative and muscle degeneration processes are responsible for significant increase of risk of fall.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow, ul. Warszawska 26A, 35-205 Reszow, Poland. mwiacek@univ.rzeszow.pl
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiacek
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hagner
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagner-Derengowska
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bluj
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drozd
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czereba
authors.forename: Igor Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Zubrzycki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011044:Poland; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012424:Rural Population