Association of activities of daily living with the load during step ascent motion in nursing home-residing elderly individuals

Objective This study aimed to examine the association of independence in ADL with the loads during step ascent motion and other motor functions in 32 nursing home-residing elderly individuals. Design Independence in ADL was assessed by using the functional independence measure (FIM). The loads at the upper (i.e., pulling up) and lower (i.e., pushing up) levels during step ascent task was measured on a step ascent platform. Hip extensor, knee extensor, plantar flexor muscle, and quadriceps setting strengths; lower extremity agility using the stepping test; and hip and knee joint pain severities were measured. One-legged stance and functional reach distance for balance, and maximal walking speed, timed up-and-go (TUG) time, five-chair-stand time, and step ascent time were also measured to assess mobility. Results Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the load at pushing up during step ascent motion and TUG time were significant and independent determinants of FIM score. FIM score decreased with decreased the load at pushing up and increased TUG time. Conclusions The study results suggest that depending on task specificity, both one step up task's push up peak load during step ascent motion and TUG, can partially explain ADL's FIM score in the nursing home-residing elderly individuals. Lower extremity muscle strength, agility, pain or balance measures did not add to the prediction. Corressponding author Mitsuhiro Masaki, R.P.T., PhD., Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata 950-3198, Japan. E-mail: masaki@nuhw.ac.jp. Office phone: +81-25-257-4312. Office fax: +81-25-257-4312 Author Disclosures No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed for the present study. Kyoritsu Denshi Kogyo Co. Ltd. financed this study. The financial providers did not contribute to the implementation of the study, analysis, interpretation of the data, or preparation of this article. The present study is an expansive analysis of our cross-sectional study that has been published previously as an article titled "Association between physical function and the load pattern during stepping-up motion in community-dwelling elderly women" (2016). Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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