Relationship between toe grip strength and dynamic balance in older adult patients with femoral neck fracture.
Ryuichi Arai, Masahiro Fuchigami, Kisui Hatamura and 2 others
PMID 37131348WHAT IT FOUND
In 15 older adults recovering from hip fracture, stronger toe grip was linked to better balance scores and a larger forward-backward sway range.
There was no difference in toe strength between the operated and non-operated legs.
Key findings
01Toe grip strength correlated with dynamic balance (IPS) and functional balance (FBS) scores.
02Toe grip strength correlated with the anteroposterior diameter of the stability area, but not with side-to-side sway or trajectory length.
03There was no significant difference in toe grip strength between the affected and non-affected legs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (15 patients), which limits the reliability of the findings. The study only included patients who were stable enough to stand and be measured, excluding those with more severe balance impairments. It is a retrospective review, so it cannot prove that toe strength causes better balance, only that they are related. Patients had only been in rehab for about three weeks on average, so longer-term effects of the fracture on muscle strength were not captured.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving toe grip strength will automatically improve balance or prevent falls. This study only found an association in a small group of patients who were already relatively mobile, and it did not test an intervention.