Does ageing, physical activity, body mass and longitudinal plantar arch affect the functional balance in elderly?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among anthropometric characteristics (longitudinal arch, body mass index, age, time of physical activity practice) and functional balance scores (Tinetti score and functional reach test) in 45 physically active elderly people. These relationships were investigated in order to know if these anthropometric variables, age and physical activity have influence on the functional balance in elderly. The longitudinal arch was measured by footprints and then classified according to the Arch Index by CAVANAGH AND RODGERS (1987). The Arch Index presented significant changes according to body mass index (BMI), and there was a prevailing incidence of flat feet in the group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (p = 0.0173). Neither the time of exercising nor the age made any difference IN the Tinetti score or BMI. Age was not an important influence in the foot morphology. The functional balance in active elderly was not influenced by the time of physical activity practice, BMI and longitudinal plantar arch.