Background Falls are a major health problem. The relationship between dynamic balance related to falls and respiratory muscle strength related to sarcopenia and frailty is poorly understood.Research question How do dynamic balance measures
such as maximal single step length test (MSL) and maximal double step length test (MDST)
and respiratory muscle strength measures
such as maximal inspiratory (PImax) and maximal expiratory (PEmax)
related to the requirement for long-term care or support in older people who live in the community? Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 39 older people (17 men
22 women) aged ? 65 years community-dwelling who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants’ PImax
PEmax
MSL
and MDST results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis.Results MDST showed a positive correlation with PImax (r = 0.430
p = 0.006) but no correlation with PEmax. MSL showed no correlation with PImax or PEmax. A positive correlation was found between MDST and MSL (r = 0.851
p < 0.001)
and multiple regression analysis with MDST as the dependent variable and PImax and MST as independent variables showed significant differences for MSL (p < 0.001) and PImax (p = 0.027).Significance In older people requiring long-term care or support
MDST had a greater association with inspiratory muscle strength compared with MSL. These results suggest the importance of inspiratory muscle strength training and MDST assessment in the prevention of falls in older people requiring long-term care or support.
