The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of lower extremity range of motion onknee extensor and flexor strength of older women.
Ninety-five older women (mean age ± SD, 70.7 ± 4.7 years; age range, 65–83 years) were recruited in this study. Seven lower extremity ranges of motion (hip flexion, hip extension, hip abduction, hip adduction, hip internal and external rotation, and knee flexion) and knee extensor and flexor strength were measured. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to calculate correlations among study variables.
To examine the influence of lower extremity range of motion on knee extensor and flexor strength, stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted using the knee extensor and flexor strength measures as the dependent variables.
Hip flexion, extension, internal and external rotation ranges of motion showed significant correlations with both of knee extensor and flexor strength. By stepwise multiple regression analyses, hip extension range of motion was found to be the only significant explanatory variable for knee extensor and flexor strength.
Our results indicate that a decrease of hip extension range of motion contributes to a reduction of knee extensor and flexor strength.