Correlation between gait speed and muscular strength with balance for reducing falls among elderly

Background: Evidence of the benefit on propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for reducing falls in older people does not exist. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of propioceptive facilitation over falls and biomechanical variables, in comparison to standard treatment and control groups. Materials and methods: Series cases comparative for the 24 participants were recruited and randomnly assigned to 3 groups. Group 1, propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, group 2, standard treatment, and 3 control. Falls and biomechanic variables were measured before and after. Chit was used for falls and multiple regression for biomechanical variables, Results: Participants had similar falls in previous year. Women had higher falls in a relation 7: 1 women-men. After intervention, there was no difference between 3 groups. A correlation exista between muscular strength and gait speed with one foot position time r(2) = 0.67, p = 0.02. Conclusions: Improving 1 kilogram-force of muscular strength of pelvic limb and 0.1 meter/second in gait speed, balance (unipodal position time) increases balance by 11.3%. After 3 months of intervention group 2 got 7.9 kg-force and 0.26 m/s of profit, while group 1 had 4.1 kg-force and 0.15 m/s and control group 2.4 kg-force and 0.1 m/s. (C) 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugia A.C. Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A.