The Relationship of Anthropometric Factors with Postural Stability and Ankle/hip Range of Motion in the Elderly

Background and There are conflicting results in the literature about the relationship between anthropometric factors and postural stability of people. No study has investigated the role of anthropometric changes in the variation of balance recovery mechanisms. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between anthropometric factors and postural stability and the association between these factors and range of motion (ROM) of the joints involved in balance recovery.
This cross-sectional study was crried out in the elderly aged 60 or higher in Kerman, Iran. For this purpose, 30 elderly males were randomly selected and their body height and weight were measured. The ankle/hip ROM and postural stability were assessed using Motion Analysis and Biodex Balance Systems, respectively. Finally, the Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the variables.
According to the results, there was a significant relationship between the anthropometric factors and postural stability of the elderly. The results also indicated an association between the anthropometric factors and the ankle/hip ROM, which was not statistically significant.
Increase in anthropometric factors reduced postural stability and changed ankle/hip ROM in the elderly, which can raise their risk of fall. Therefore, anthropometric factors are believed to be appropriate criteria for predicting the risk of fall in the elderly.