A portable, easily performed muscle power test and its association with falls by elderly persoms.

This study developed and evaluated a simple, inexpensive, and safe screening test for assessment of falling risk in elderly persons. Subjects sat in chairs (hips and knees at 90 degrees) with their feet over a force transducer and stood as forcefully as possible. After standing for five seconds, they sat as fast as possible. The rate of change in force (dF/dT) for standing and sitting were calculated from data collected by computer. A group of nonfallers (n = 23, age = 23 to 72 years) and a group of fallers (n = 22, age = 63 to 92 years) were studied. Nonfallers' dF/dT for standing decreased linearly from 4kg.sec-1.kg-1 to 2.5kg.sec-1.kg-1. Values in fallers decreased linearly from 3kg.sec-1.kg-1 to 0.1kg.sec-1.kg-1. The dF/dT for sitting was not dependent on age in either group. Fallers had lower dF/dT than nonfallers (1.3 +/- .6kg.sec-1.kg-1 and 2.3 +/- .01kg.sec-1.kg-1, respectively). Seventeen of 22 fallers were identified by a reduced dF/dT and reduced overshoot force (kg).