Abstract
Spinal mobility and back extensor strength (BES) are important in determining quality of life (QOL) for elderly people. However, the impact of spinal factors on falls remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify spinal factors related to falls in elderly people, including deformity of spinal curvature, spinal mobility and BES. Subjects comprised 92 elderly people divided into 3 groups: subjects without a history of falls or fear of falls (Non-falls group, n = 40); subjects with a history of fear of falls or requiring any support when walking (Fear of falls group, n = 36); and subjects with a history of falls (Falls group, n = 16). Kyphotic angles and mobility of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine, and spinal inclination were measured using a computer-assisted device. Postural imbalance was evaluated using a computerized stabilometer. Isometric BES was also measured. Angle of lumbar kyphosis, spinal inclination, and postural imbalance were significantly higher in the Falls group (p < 0.05) compared to those in the Non-falls group. Mobility of the lumbar spine and BES were significantly lower in the Falls group (p < 0.05) than in the Non-falls group. Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, height, and body weight showed grip strength (p = 0.0028), BES (p = 0.0052), lumbar kyphosis (p = 0.0057), spinal inclination (p = 0.0378), mobility of lumbar spine (0.027), and mobility of spinal inclination (p = 0.0282) were significantly associated with presence/absence of falls in elderly individuals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gerson LW, Jarjoura D, McCord G (1989) Risk of imbalance in elderly people with impaired hearing or vision. Age Ageing 18:31–34
Moreland JD, Richardson JA, Goldsmith CH, Clase CM (2004) Muscle weakness and falls in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 52:1121–1129
Satoh K, Kasama F, Itoi E, Tanuma S, Wakamatsu E (1988) Clinical features of spinal osteoporosis: spinal deformity and pertinent back pain. Contemp Orthop 16:23–30
Miyakoshi N, Itoi E, Kobayashi M, Kodama H (2003) Impact of postural deformities and spinal mobility on quality of life in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 14:1007–1012
Miyakoshi N, Hongo M, Maekawa S, Ishikawa Y, Shimada Y, Itoi E (2007) Back extensor strength and lumbar spinal mobility are predictors of quality of life in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 18:1397–1403
Post RB, Leferink VJM (2004) Spinal mobility: sagittal range of motion measured with the SpinalMouse, a new non-invasive device. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 124:187–192
Miyakoshi N, Hongo M, Maekawa S, Ishikawa Y, Shimada Y, Okada K, Itoi E (2005) Factors related to spinal mobility in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 16:1871–1874
Limburg PJ, Sinaki M, Rogers JW, Caskey PE, Pierskalla BK (1991) A useful technique for measurement of back strength in osteoporotic and elderly patients. Mayo Clin Proc 66:39–44
Murata K, Yano E (2002) Medical statistics for evidence-based medicine with SPBS user’s guide. Nankodo, Tokyo
Itoi E (1991) Roentgenographic analysis of posture in spinal osteoporotics. Spine 16:750–756
Lynn SG, Sinaki M, Westerlind KC (1997) Balance characteristics of persons with osteoporosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 78:273–277
Jang JS, Lee SH, Min JH, Han KM (2007) Lumbar degenerative kyphosis: radiologic analysis and classifications. Spine 32:2694–2699
Sinaki M, Khosla S, Limburg P, Rogers JW, Murtaugh PA (1993) Muscle strength in osteoporotic versus normal women. Osteoporos Int 3:8–12
Sinaki M, Itoi E, Rogers JW, Bergstralh EJ, Wahner HW (1996) Correlation of back extensor strength with thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in estrogen-deficient women. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 75:370–374
Mika A, Unnithan VB, Mika P (2005) Differences in thoracic kyphosis and in back muscle strength in women with bone loss due to osteoporosis. Spine 30:241–246
Sinaki M, Brey RH, Hughes CA, Larson DR, Kaufman KR (2005) Balance disorder and increased risk of falls in osteoporosis and kyphosis: significance of kyphotic posture and muscle strength. Osteoporos Int 16:1004–1010
Lee CS, Lee CK, Kim YT, Hong YM, Yoo JH (2001) Dynamic sagittal imbalance of the spine in degenerative flat back: significance of pelvic tilt in surgical treatment. Spine 26:2029–2035
Acknowledgments
This study was funded in part by a research grant from the Japanese Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Foundation, Inc (grant #0160).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Kasukawa, Y., Miyakoshi, N., Hongo, M. et al. Relationships between falls, spinal curvature, spinal mobility and back extensor strength in elderly people. J Bone Miner Metab 28, 82–87 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-009-0107-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-009-0107-1