Background

Force steadiness is evaluated as force variability during constant force exertion around a target level. Ankle plantar flexor force steadiness is reported to be related to postural sway on an unstable platform in healthy young adults; however, this relationship in older adults is unclear.

Research question

This study aimed to investigate whether ankle plantar flexor force steadiness was related to postural sway on stable and unstable platforms in older adults.

Methods

Twenty-six community-dwelling older women participated in this study (72 ± 6 years). Maximal isometric strength and force steadiness at 5%, 20 %, and 50 % of the maximal strength of ankle plantar flexion were assessed. Postural sway in the anteroposterior direction during bipedal standing was measured on stable and unstable platforms.

Results

The results showed that force steadiness at any intensity level and maximal isometric strength were not related to postural sway on the stable platform. Force steadiness at 20 % of maximal strength alone was significantly correlated with postural sway on the unstable platform (ρ = 0.441, p < 0.05).

Significance

These results indicate that the ability to control muscle force could be important for postural stability on an unstable platform in older adults.

中文翻译：

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社区老年妇女在不稳定平台上的姿势摇摆与踝屈力量稳定之间的关系

背景

力稳定度被评估为在目标水平附近持续施加力期间的力可变性。据报道，在健康的年轻人中，脚踝plant屈力量的稳定与在不稳定平台上的姿势摇摆有关。但是，老年人之间的这种关系尚不清楚。

研究问题

这项研究的目的是调查踝关节unstable屈力的稳定性是否与老年人稳定和不稳定平台上的姿势摇摆有关。

方法

26名社区居​​住的老年妇女参加了这项研究（72±6岁）。评估踝关节plant屈最大强度的5％，20％和50％时的最大等距强度和力稳定性。在稳定和不稳定的平台上测量双足站立时前后姿势的摆动。

结果

结果表明，在任何强度水平上的力稳定和最大等距强度都与稳定平台上的姿势摇摆无关。仅在最大强度的20％时，力的稳定与不稳定平台上的姿势摇摆显着相关（ρ= 0.441，p <0.05）。

意义

这些结果表明，控制肌肉力量的能力对于老年人在不稳定平台上的姿势稳定性可能很重要。