RELATIONSHIP OF FALLS WITH QUADRICEPS MUSCLE STRENGTH AND HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY

Abstract

Objective: to correlate the quadriceps muscle strength and the manual grip strength with the presence of falls suffered in the last year by institutionalized elderly. Material and method: a cross-sectional study was carried out and 20 institutionalized elderly were included. Sociodemographic data and number of falls during the last year were recorded. Quadriceps muscle strength and hand grip strength were assessed using dynamometry. Study participants were divided into groups of low (quadriceps strength < 10 kg; grip strength < 15 kg), moderate (quadriceps strength 10-15 kg), or high (quadriceps strength > 15 kg, grip strength > 15 kg) muscle strength. Results: Currence of falls was greater by an odds ratio (OR) = 4.00 (95 % CI 0.21-75.66) in the participants who presented a quadriceps muscle strength of 10-15 kg, and by an OR = 7.00 (95 % CI 0.57-86.32) in those who presented a force < 10 kg, compared to the group with a quadriceps muscle strength > 15 kg. In the participants who presented a grip strength < 15 kg, occurrence of falls was grater by OR = 5.44 (95 % CI 0.80-36.87). Male gender, higher body mass index, osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency were factors related to more fall events in participants with lower quadriceps muscle strength. Older age, hypertension and diabetes were factors related to more fall events in participants with lower hand grip strength. Conclusions: a greater presence of falls is observed in institutionalized elderly with low quadriceps muscle strength or low manual grip strength.