The Effect of ankle muscle strength on balance recovery strategy of the elderly

The shift of the balance recovery strategy from ankle to hip joint is one of the most important risk factors for falls in the elderly [1]. The aim of this study was to answer the question whether this changes are affected by natural decrease of ankle strength with aging or not For this purpose, 60 subjects were randomly selected and classified into elderly and youth groups (with mean age of 64/4-3/8 and 24/1-1/9 years respectively). Balance recovery strategies were recorded by six high-speed cameras after sudden movement of the treadmill. The strength of the ankle muscles were also evaluated using the hand held dynamometer (HHD). Finally the independent T-test DQG WKH 3HDUVRQ FRUUHODWLRQ WHVW ZHUH XVHG IRU GDWD DQDOVLV (3 0/05).The results showed there was a significant difference in balance recovery strategy and also in the ankle strength between two groups (P<0/05). The results also showed there was a significant negative correlation between ankle muscle strength and the use of hip strategy in both groups (P<0/05).According to the results of this study it can be concluded that elderly people are mainly hip dominant and youth are mainly ankle dominant strategy for balance recovery [1]. On the other hand, it seems that the changes in balance recovery strategies of the elderly are affected by the natural decrease of ankle muscle strength due to aging [2-4]; therefore, strengthening exercise for ankle muscles can play an important role in using the ankle strategy and subsequently it can increase the balance ability of the elderly [5].