Control of Balance Differs After Knee or Ankle Fatigue in Older Women
Abstract
Bellew JW, Fenter PC. Control of balance differs after knee or ankle fatigue in older women.
Objective
To examine the effects of acute isokinetic knee or ankle fatigue on control of static and dynamic balance in older women.
Design
Pretest and posttest.
Setting
University research laboratory.
Participants
Eighteen healthy, community-dwelling older women (age, 77±6y) with no history of falling.
Interventions
Measurements of static and dynamic balance control before and after isokinetically fatiguing the ankle plantar- and dorsiflexors or knee extensors and flexors in separate sessions.
Main Outcome Measures
Performance on 3 clinical assessments of control of balance: modified Functional Reach Test (mFRT), Lower-Extremity Reach Test (LERT), and Single-Limb Stance Time Test (SLSTT).
Results
Balance declined in the mFRT after fatigue to each joint, with no significant difference in the magnitude of change between joints. Control of balance during the LERT decreased significantly only after knee fatigue, and control of balance during the SLSTT was significantly reduced only after ankle fatigue.
Conclusions
Balance performance after acute isokinetic muscular fatigue to the knee or ankle is specific to the muscle groups fatigued and the balance tests used.
Program in Physical Therapy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.
Reprint requests to James W. Bellew, EdD, PT, 1501 Kings Hwy, Rm 310 SAHP, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932
Supported by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (intramural small grants program).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT