DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER LIMB MUSCLE STRENGTH IN ELDERLY PEOPLE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Abstract

With aging, a reduction in lower limb (LL) muscle strength is common, compromising mobility. This study aimed to analyze a possible reduction in LL muscle strength and determine whether it is associated with current demographic and health factors in older adults. The sample consisted of 21 participants in a longitudinal project, assessed between 2014 and 2016 (T1) and reassessed between 2023 and 2024 (T2). Data from the five-times chair stand-to-sit test and questionnaires were analyzed. The mean time difference was 1.77 (SD=7.1) seconds, and it showed a moderate and positive correlation with the number of falls (r=0.517; p=0.024) at T2. It was concluded that participants who experienced increased test time reported more falls