The Effect of Muscle Strength on Performance during the Sit-to-Walk Task in Elderly Subjects

Aging results in declines in many physiological functions, which can negatively affect the performance of everyday activities such as mov- ing from a sitting position to walking. This study was intended to determine how decreases in lower extremity strength can negatively influence elderly performance during Sit-to-Walk, putting them at risk for falling. Forty eight subjects above the age of 70 were recruited to perform the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) as well as strength tests targeting hip abductors, knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors. Lower strength subjects took longer to complete the TUG test. Smaller GRFs were correlated with longer duration of TUG, which indicates a decrease in overall performance and a higher probability of falling as a result of poor muscle strength. This study provides an explanation to how muscle strength correlates with performance in terms of GRF’s and time.