Objective : To investigate the difference of range of motion (ROM) of lower extremities according to age
Subject & Method : Total 578 healthy people participated in the study. Participants are classified into 2 groups by age. One is between 20 to 30 years (n=318, mean age 26.0±6), and the other is over 65 years (n=260, mean age 71.8±4). People who have neurologic disease, musculoskeletal problem, history of lower extremity surgery, pain of lower extremity and low back pain or whose body mass index are more than 30 were excluded. All the subjects had a radiographic examination of the lower extremity, among which the elderly whose Kellgren-Lawrence grade was more than 3 were excluded. Korean ROM Standard Protocal (KRSP) was used in measuring ROM and pushing force of 0, 2, 4 kgf in elderly people. One examiner measured the active and passive ROM of hip, knee and ankle joints by Dualer IQ Inclinometers (J-tech, USA) and applied pushing force by using MicroFET2 (HOGGAN, USA). ROM of hip, knee and ankle joints were measured according to change of force at supine position (hip flexion), side-lying position (hip abduction, adduction), prone position (hip extension, internal rotation, external rotation, knee flexion), prone position with knee flexion 90˚ (ankle inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion) and prone position with knee extension 0˚ (ankle dorsiflexion, plantar flexion). The ROM was measured 3 times and the average value was used.
Result : This study found a difference between the ROM of lower extremities in 20s-30s and elderly people. The results showed a marked lower active and passive ROM of hip extension, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, knee flexion, ankle eversion, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion in elderly people than the young people (p<.001). The active ROM of hip flexion was also lower in elderly (p<.01). However, the result of active and passive ROM of ankle inversion was higher in the elderly (p<.001) and in ROM of hip adduction, there were no statistically significant difference between these groups.
Conclusion : Overall, the ROM of lower extremities in the elderly were lower than the young except for the case in ankle inversion. |
