Abstract
PURPOSE: Lower extremity function is closely related to cognitive and balance impairments. Evaluating the difference of lower extremity function with different levels of cognitive impairment and find out the cognitive effects of balance functioning among older adults.
METHODS: Fifty-five adults aged over 60 were divided into normal cognitive (NC, n=23), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=24), and dementia groups (D, n=35), using the SLUMS scale and physician’s diagnosis. Lower extremity muscle strength (30-second chair stand test), lower extremity flexibility (chair sit-and-reach), agility/dynamic balance (8-foot up-and-go), stability score and single-leg static balance capacity were evaluated.
RESULTS: In static balance, the NC group demonstrated better performance in stability score than D group, especially in anterior-posterior side. In ankle proprioception, both the NC and MCI groups improved the joint position sense slightly better than the D group. Moreover, the NC and MCI groups had significantly better performance in lower extremity flexibility, agility/dynamic balance than the D group.
CONCLUSIONS: The abilities of lower extremity function and agility/dynamic balance may be affected by the level of cognitive impairment. We suggest that should give priority for providing strategies of exercise intervention for balance to improve lower extremity function, especially when agility/dynamic, anterior–posterior control and ankle proprioception are limited because of early cognitive impairment.
METHODS: Fifty-five adults aged over 60 were divided into normal cognitive (NC, n=23), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=24), and dementia groups (D, n=35), using the SLUMS scale and physician’s diagnosis. Lower extremity muscle strength (30-second chair stand test), lower extremity flexibility (chair sit-and-reach), agility/dynamic balance (8-foot up-and-go), stability score and single-leg static balance capacity were evaluated.
RESULTS: In static balance, the NC group demonstrated better performance in stability score than D group, especially in anterior-posterior side. In ankle proprioception, both the NC and MCI groups improved the joint position sense slightly better than the D group. Moreover, the NC and MCI groups had significantly better performance in lower extremity flexibility, agility/dynamic balance than the D group.
CONCLUSIONS: The abilities of lower extremity function and agility/dynamic balance may be affected by the level of cognitive impairment. We suggest that should give priority for providing strategies of exercise intervention for balance to improve lower extremity function, especially when agility/dynamic, anterior–posterior control and ankle proprioception are limited because of early cognitive impairment.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 3 Jun 2017 |
| Event | 64th Annual Meeting the American College of Sports Medicine - Denver, Colorado, USA United States Duration: 30 May 2017 → 3 Jun 2017 |
Conference
| Conference | 64th Annual Meeting the American College of Sports Medicine |
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| Country/Territory | USA United States |
| Period | 30/05/17 → 3/06/17 |