Functional mobility related to muscle strength in elderly women physically active

ABSTRACT Introduction: The changes that influence functional mobility in the elderly are many, such as posture alterations, diminution of muscular force and amplitude of movement. Objective: To determine the most appropriate parameter for functional mobility estimation, as well as the effect of muscular strength on functional mobility of elderly people. Methods: The sample was constituted by 41 healthy female individuals from 60 to 78 years old who were submitted to the Time up and go (TUG) test that assess the abilities of basic mobility in fragile elderly people (time to get up and move), Berg's balance scale (BBS), functional reach test (FRT) and one maximum repetition test (1MR). Results: The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that only Berg's scale presented eigenvalue (self-value) higher than 1, explaining 59% of the variance. On the other hand, the muscular strength was predictor of functional mobility only when the TUG has been analyzed, suggesting that 20% of functional mobility can be explained by muscular strength (R=-0.42 [R2=0.20, β=-0.29± 0.12, P=0.023]). Conclusion: The BBS seemed to represent the most appropriate procedure for func-tional mobility estimation. Muscular strength was predictor of functional mobility only when TUG has been analyzed.摘要 引言：影响老年人功能移动能力的变化因素众多，诸如姿势改变、肌肉力量减退以及运动幅度缩减。 目的：本研究旨在确定最适用于功能移动能力评估的参数，同时明确肌肉力量对老年人功能移动能力的影响效应。 方法：本研究样本由41名年龄介于60至78岁的健康女性受试者组成，所有受试者均接受了以下测试：用于评估衰弱老年人基础活动能力的起立-行走计时测试（Time Up and Go, TUG）、伯格平衡量表（Berg's Balance Scale, BBS）、功能性前伸测试（Functional Reach Test, FRT）以及单次最大重复次数测试（One Maximum Repetition Test, 1MR）。 结果：主成分分析（Principal Component Analysis, PCA）结果显示，仅伯格平衡量表的特征值（eigenvalue）大于1，可解释59%的总变异。另一方面，肌肉力量仅在分析起立-行走计时测试结果时可作为功能移动能力的预测因子，提示肌肉力量可解释20%的功能移动能力变异（R=-0.42 [R²=0.20, β=-0.29±0.12, P=0.023]）。 结论：伯格平衡量表可作为评估功能移动能力的最优方案。肌肉力量仅在分析起立-行走计时测试结果时，可作为功能移动能力的预测因子。