Relationship between foot-gripping strength and thoracic spine kyphotic angle in community-dwelling elderly women

Abstract

[Purpose] We investigated the relationship between foot-gripping strength (FGS) and the thoracic spine kyphotic angle (TKA) in community-dwelling elderly women. [Subjects] The subjects were 37 community-dwelling women: average age, 74.7 ± 5.9 years. [Methods] We measured FGS and TKA together with one leg standing time, and investigated them using correlation and covariance analyses. [Results] Significant relationships were found between each of FGS, TKA and one leg standing time; as TKA increased, FGS decreased and one leg standing time shortened. Furthermore, when we compared low and high value groups of TKA, even after adjusting for age, the relationship with FGS and one leg standing time was still shown. [Conclusion] The results suggest that elderly women with large TKA have poor FGS and a lowered standing balance ability.