Relation between flexibility, muscle strength and fear of falling in the elderly

• Grant number: 14/02634-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Sebastião Gobbi
• Grantee: Carolina Pasqual Celestrin
• Supervisor: Debra J. Rose
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: California State University, Fullerton, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/07008-7 - Acute effect of different muscle groups stretching in muscle performance in elderly women, BP.IC

Abstract

With the declining of muscular strength and flexibility resulting from the aging process, older people are more likely to fall. Studies have reported that fear of falling is also a factor that contributes to a higher prevalence to fall in this population. However, no studies investigating a possible relation between the three factors were found. The aim of this study is to analyze the relation between flexibility and muscle strength in the lower limbs, and fear of falling in the elderly. A selection will be held in a database, the results of: a) flexibility(the dominant side) and muscle strength, both lower limbs, evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test (RIKLI & JONES, 1999; 2012), b) fear of falling assessed using a 7-point likert scale. Shapiro-Wilk test will be used for statistical analysis and the Pearson-Product Moment correlation or Spearman-Rank test, according to data normality. A significance level of p < 0.05 is assumed. (AU)