Effects of age on strength and morphology of toe flexor muscles

Mickle, KJ; Angin, S; Crofts, GS; Nester, CJ

Abstract

Study Design: Cross-sectional. 27
Objective: To compare the strength and size of the toe flexor muscles of older adults relative 28 to their younger counterparts. 29
Background: Age related muscle atrophy is common in lower limb muscles and we therefore 30 speculated that foot muscles also diminish with age. However, there is a paucity of literature 31 characterizing foot muscle strength and morphology, and any relationship between these two, 32 in older people. 33
Methods: Seventeen young adults with a normal foot type were matched by gender and BMI 34 to 17 older adults with a normal foot type, from an available sample of 41 young (18-50 35 years) and 44 older (60+ years) adults. Among the matched groups (n=34), muscle thickness 36 and cross-sectional area (CSA) for five intrinsic and two extrinsic toe flexor muscles were 37 obtained using ultrasound. Toe strength was assessed using a pressure platform. Differences 38 in toe flexor strength and muscle size between the young and older matched groups were 39 determined using ANCOVA (controlling for height). Correlations between strength and size 40 of the toe flexor muscles of the pooled group (n=34) were also calculated. 41
Results: Toe strength and the thickness and CSA of most foot muscles and were significantly 42 reduced in the older adults (P<0.05). Hallux and toe flexor strength were strongly correlated 43 with the size of the intrinsic muscles toe flexor muscles. 44
Conclusion: The smaller foot muscles appear to be affected by sarcopenia in older adults. 45 This could contribute to reduced toe flexion force production and affect the ability of older 46 people to walk safely. Interventions aimed at reversing foot muscle atrophy in older people 47 require further investigation.

Citation

Mickle, K., Angin, S., Crofts, G., & Nester, C. (2016). Effects of age on strength and morphology of toe flexor muscles. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 46(12), 1065-1070. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2016.6597

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 18, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 10, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
• Print ISSN: 0190-6011
• Electronic ISSN: 1938-1344
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 1065-1070
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2016.6597
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2016.6597
• Related Public URLs: http://www.jospt.org/
• Additional Information: Funders : Australian National 12 Health and Medical Research Council Post-doctoral Fellowship; Projects : Overseas Clinical Training 13 Fellowship; Grant Number: ID 1016521