| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 物理治療暨輔助科技學系 === 96 === Background: Aging process may contribute deficiency of function in lower extremities. Thus, this may lead to elder persons having high incidence of fall accident. Sit-to-stand (STS) and squatting are functional movements, and those involve ability of posture reflex and speed of strength generation in the lower extremities. Therefore, quantitative analysis of STS and squatting ability is an useful method in understanding fall risk in elder persons. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of lower limb muscle power among three groups, elder with fallen, healthy elderly and young adults, during performing STS and squatting movements. Methods: Forty-two subjects voluntarily participated in this study. A single-axis force plate, data acquisition (DAQ) system and LabVIEW software were used to evaluate biomechanical parameters among the tested movement. One-way ANOVA associated with Scheffe multiple comparisons were used to exam parameter differences among three tested groups. Results: Comparing with young adults during STS movement, elder risk fallers were found decreasing 53% (p<0.05) of muscle power in the lower extremities. Healthy elders, however, only decreased 25% (p<0.05). Similar comparison but in squatting, elder risk fallers decreased 30% (p<0.05) of the functional strength and 69% (p<0.05) of power in the lower extremities. However, healthy elders only decreased 21% (p<0.05) of the functional strength and 40% (p<0.05) of power. Discussions and conclusions: Deterioration of strength and power in lower extremities might lead elder persons having high fall incidence. Since muscle power involved quick force generation in order to maintain adequate leg stiffness, muscle power of lower extremities was important for elder persons. Based on the evidence in the present study, in order to decrease the incidence of fall accident among elder persons, we thought power rehabilitation of the lower extremities in elder persons was extremely important.
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