Comparison of heel raise repetitions and maximum step length and their relation to falls

Abstract

[Purpose] Heel raise repetitions and the maximum step length of elderly subjects were compared, and their differences as indices of fall history were investigated. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 80 persons over 65 years of age who could walk independently. The number of heel raises performed in 10 seconds, and the maximum step length, the greatest possible forward step distance, were measured and compared between subjects with and without a history of falls. [Results] The number of heel raises and maximum step length of the falls group were significantly less than those of the no-falls group, and their correlation coefficient was r=0.539. Also, the cutoff value for heel raises between the falls and no-falls groups was 10.5 (sensitivity, 80.9%; specificity, 72.7%). [Conclusion] The results show that the heel raise number correlated well with maximum step length, and because it was significantly lower in the falls group, there is a possibility that it is a useful predictor of falls.