HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mecagni, C. Articles by O'Sullivan, S. B Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mecagni, C. Articles by O'Sullivan, S. B Related Collections Balance Tests and Measurements Geriatrics: Other Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Balance and Ankle Range of Motion in Community-Dwelling Women Aged 64 to 87 Years: A Correlational Study

C Mecagni, PT, MSPT, is Physical Therapist, Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, Worcester, Mass
JP Smith, PT, MSPT, is Physical Therapist, Brown Schools Rehabilitation Center, Austin, Tex. Address all correspondence to Ms Smith at 4512 Avenue B, Austin, TX 78751 (USA) (jpsbos7{at}aol.com)
KE Roberts, PT, MSPT, is Physical Therapist, Beverly Rehabilitation, East Village Nursing Home, Lexington, Mass; Elmhurst Nursing Home, Melrose, Mass; and Dexter House, Malden, Mass
SB O'Sullivan, PT, EdD, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Massachusetts–Lowell, Lowell, Mass

Background and Purpose. This study investigated the relationship between balance measures and ankle range of motion (ROM) in community-dwelling elderly women with no health problems. Identification of modifiable factors associated with balance may enable clinicians to design treatments to help reduce the risk of falls in elderly people. Subjects. The sample consisted of 34 women between the ages of 64 and 87 years (=74.7, SD=6.0). Methods. Goniometry was used to determine bilateral ankle active-assistive range of motion (AAROM) and passive range of motion. Balance capabilities were measured with the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). Balance data for the FRT, POMA balance subtest, POMA gait subtest, and POMA total score were correlated with ankle ROM using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (PCC). Results. Correlations between ROM and balance scores were found, ranging from .29 to .63. The POMA gait subtest and FRT resulted in higher correlations with ROM than did the POMA balance subtest (left total AAROM PCC=.63, .51, and .31). Correlations using composite ankle ROM scores were higher than individual motions. The strongest correlation existed between bilateral, total ankle AAROM and the POMA gait subtest scores (PCC=.63) Conclusion and Discussion. Correlations exist between ankle ROM and balance in community-dwelling elderly women. Additional research is needed to determine whether treatment directed at increasing ankle ROM can improve balance.

Key Words: Ankle range of motion • Balance • Elderly women

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Surakka and T. Kivela Motivating visually impaired and deaf-blind people to perform regular physical exercises British Journal of Visual Impairment, September 1, 2008; 26(3): 255 - 268. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J Faber, R. J Bosscher, and P. C. van Wieringen Clinimetric Properties of the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment Physical Therapy, July 1, 2006; 86(7): 944 - 954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Martin and T. G. McPoil Reliability of Ankle Goniometric Measurements: A Literature Review J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, November 1, 2005; 95(6): 564 - 572. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]