Gender-specific impact of falls on ankle function and its relationship with balance in older adults.

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q2 REHABILITATION

Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Pub Date : 2025-10-10 DOI:10.1080/09593985.2025.2570369

Melda Başer Seçer, Melahat Aktaş Öztürk, Sinem Çiçek Güvendik, Ozge Çeliker Tosun, Erhan Seçer, Mehmet Emin Limoncu

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Abstract

Objective: This study investigated changes in ankle function in older adults with a history of falls and the influence of gender. It also explored the relationship between balance and ankle function in fallers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 78 nursing home residents [54 women (mean age: 75.54 ± 4.88), 24 men (mean age: 78.87 ± 5.50)] aged ≥65 years was conducted. Ankle dorsi-plantar flexion range of motion (ROM), tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GC) electromyography (EMG) activity during contraction/relaxation, and isometric TA/GC strength were measured. Fear of falling (FoF) and balance were assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), respectively.

Results: Rates of fallers (women %32, men %33) were similar between genders. Men with a history of falls showed higher GC EMG activity (p = .016) and greater FoF (p = .016) than women with fall history. Fallers versus non-fallers in men also exhibited higher GC EMG activity (p = .039) and FoF (p = .011). In men, fall number positively correlated with GC work average and FES. A strong negative correlation existed between BBS and FES in male fallers (r = -0.985, p = .015).

Conclusion: Ankle ROM and muscle function may be unaffected in women post-fall. However, men experiencing falls might have reduced ankle strength, potentially compensated by increased EMG activity. Men appear more significantly impacted by falls psychologically and functionally.

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老年人跌倒对踝关节功能的性别影响及其与平衡的关系。

目的：本研究探讨有跌倒史的老年人踝关节功能的变化及性别的影响。它还探讨了平衡与跌倒者脚踝功能之间的关系。方法：对78名年龄≥65岁的老年人进行横断面研究，其中女性54人（平均年龄75.54±4.88），男性24人（平均年龄78.87±5.50）。测量踝背-足底屈曲活动度（ROM）、胫骨前肌（TA）和腓肠肌（GC）收缩/舒张时肌电图（EMG）活动以及TA/GC强度。分别采用跌倒效能量表（FES）和伯格平衡量表（BBS）评估跌倒恐惧（FoF）和平衡能力。结果：男女之间的跌倒率（女性32%，男性33%）相似。有跌倒史的男性比有跌倒史的女性表现出更高的GC肌电活动（p = 0.016）和更大的FoF （p = 0.016）。男性中，跌倒者与非跌倒者相比，也表现出更高的GC肌电活动（p = 0.039）和FoF （p = 0.011）。在男性中，跌倒次数与GC工作平均和FES呈正相关。男性降压者BBS与FES呈显著负相关（r = -0.985, p = 0.015）。结论：女性跌倒后踝关节ROM和肌肉功能可能不受影响。然而，经历跌倒的男性可能会减少脚踝的力量，潜在地通过增加肌电活动来补偿。男性似乎更明显地受到跌倒的心理和功能影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Physiotherapy Theory and Practice REHABILITATION-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

10.00%

发文量

300

期刊介绍： The aim of Physiotherapy Theory and Practice is to provide an international, peer-reviewed forum for the publication, dissemination, and discussion of recent developments and current research in physiotherapy/physical therapy. The journal accepts original quantitative and qualitative research reports, theoretical papers, systematic literature reviews, clinical case reports, and technical clinical notes. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice; promotes post-basic education through reports, reviews, and updates on all aspects of physiotherapy and specialties relating to clinical physiotherapy.