Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil | [b] Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil | [c] Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, São Paulo State University, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, São Paulo State University, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil | [e] Department of Physical Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing {&} Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Luciano F. Crozara, Department of Physical Education, Institute of Bioscience, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 1515 24-A Ave., Bela Vista, Rio Claro, São Paulo 13506-900, Brazil. Tel.: +55 1935264315; E-mail:lucianoeduca@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lower-extremity strength and neuromuscular parameters
that are more affected with age and in individuals more prone to fall still
needs to be identified in healthy physically active adults. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of joint torque and muscle
activity parameters to differentiate between physically active women, young,
older non-fallers and older fallers; and their correlation with the number
of falls in older women. METHODS: Measures were taken from concentric contractions during
isokinetic sagittal plane movements at 90°/s and 120°/s. EMG from
the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius
and tibialis anterior were recorded. RESULTS: Overall young women were stronger, more powerful and
presented lower muscle activation than older women fallers and non-fallers
(all p < 0.04). Older women fallers had lower knee flexion and extension peak
torque (p < 0.033) and power (p < 0.045), lower ankle dorsiflexion power (p =
0.04) and higher rectus femoris activation (p = 0.033) at 90°/s than
older women non-fallers; and all these variables were correlated with the
number of falls (r = 0.32-0.49; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be useful for a better
understanding of biomechanical risk factors for falls and for exercise-based
fall prevention programs development.
