Ankle joint position sense of elderly engaged in difference types of exercise

To determine ankle joint position sense (JPS) of elderly engaged in difference types of exercise and no exercise. Subjects in this study were 160 Thai elderly aged 60-70 years old. They were classified in 4 groups, 40 persons per group, i.e. walking, tai chi, jogging, and non-exercise group. All of them were tested ankle JPS by passive reproduction test during weight bearing. The test foot was passively moved through a target position by an apparatus at a constant speed, 0.25 degrees per second. After that, the subjects indicate the joint position when they perceived that the target position had been reached. Mean values of two trials in each movement (total 4 movements i.e. inversion, eversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion) were used for analysis. Furthermore, leg strength was tested with Senior’s chair stand test. The balance assessments were tested consequently with functional reach test, timed up&go test (TUG), single leg stance test, and the force platform test (BalanceCheck®) which presence of anterior-posterior (A-P) center of pressure (CoP) excursion, lateral center of pressure (CoP) excursion, and direction of maximum instability with eyes open and eyes closed either on a hard or soft surface. This study found that the non-exercise group had fall rate 30%, walking group 25%, jogging group 24.24%, and tai chi group 22.50%. Regarding joint position sense (JPS) test, exercise groups had significantly better ankle JPS for eversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion in comparison with non-exercise group (p<0.05). Whereas the leg strength of jogging group was greater than other groups. Otherwise, all three exercise groups had significantly better reaching distance and time of TUG test in comparison with non-exercise group (p<0.05). The single leg stance time of all types of exercise groups were significantly better than non-exercise group (p<0.05). Finally, the lateral CoP excursion with eyes closed on hard and soft surface of tai chi group were significantly better than other groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, active elderly, tai chi practitioners, has best ankle proprioception and balance control, whereas jogging group has leg strength better than other groups. Their improvements in ankle proprioception and lower limb strength might reduce fall rate.