| Functional Fitness and Asymmetry on Lower Body Muscle Strength of Elderly Women with Fall Experience |
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Jin-Wook Chung, Hye-Jung Choi |
University of Ulsan, College of Medicine
Bobath Memorial Hospital |
Correspondence:
Hye-Jung Choi,
Email: chohy993@hanmail.net
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Received: 4 June 2009 • Accepted: 19 July 2009 |
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| Abstract |
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The purpose of this study was to investigate functional fitness and asymmetry on lower body muscle strength of elderly women with fall experience. 62 women aged 65-75 years old participated in this study. They were divided into two groups (faller, n=27; non-faller, n=35) according to the fall experience. Closed one leg stand, sit & reach, reaction time, 6min walking were conducted to measure balance, flexibility, agility, and walking ability, respectively. Isokinetic knee strength and asymmetry were measured by cybex 770. As a result, significant differences were shown in balance, agility, walking ability between groups. Muscular strength and endurance of both side flexors and extensors, bilateral asymmetry, and muscular strength of left side ipsilateral asymmetry showed significant differences between groups. In conclusion, weakness of functional fitness and lower body muscle strength, endurance, and asymmetry affect to the fall experience. Therefore, proper exercise training focused not only on functional fitness but on improving asymmetry is needed to prevent fall down. |
| Keywords:
Fall, Functional Fitness, Isokinetic strength, Asymmetry, Elderly |
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