Decade Wise Analysis of Ankle Plantar Flexors Strength in Adults Using One Leg Heel Raise Test (OLHR)

Abstract

One Leg Heel raise test is used extensively in clinical practice to assess the strength of ankle plantar flexors. Though it has good reliability and face validity, there is dearth of evidence for definitive normative values in different decades. Our study assessed 40 subjects each in different decades between 20 to 70 years divided in 5 groups, with a total of 200 subjects, for number of repetitions of one leg heel raise. It was seen that the mean number of repetitions in the decade of 20 to 30 was 32 repetitions and thereafter it reduced gradually, with only an average of 7 repetitions being performed between the decades of 60 to 70 years. The difference in average number of heel raises being performed every decade was statistically significant. This could be attributed to age related changes in neuromuscular morphology. Further research is needed to increase the sample size and find normative values of OLHR for different decades.