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ABSTRACT

Background: There are certain factors which affect the balance and which are associated with the systems i.e. sensory, motor and CNS integration. Muscle tightness is one of the commonest motor system factor which affect the balance.Tightness of calf and hamstring may affect static, dynamic balance of body and mobility.

Objective: The study is intended to find correlation between calf tightness and hamstring. Tightness with static, dynamic stability and balance in adult population.

Method: 30 subjects between age group of 40-60 yr were selected. Tightness of calf and hamstring were measured. The calf tightness was measured by taking difference between active and passive dorsiflexion range. The hamstring tightness was measured by using AKET. Following outcome measures were taken to find the correlation with the tightness.

Outcome measures:

1) Functional Reach Test for static stability (Forward & Backward Reach)(FRT)

2) Time Up and Go test for mobility(TUG)

3) Berg Balance Scale for balance (BBS)

Study design: Experimental randomized clinical trial

Sampling technique: Purposive random sampling from adult population

Results: The data was analyzed by using Pearson correlation (2-tailed) technique. The hypothesis is accepted and thus it suggests that there is correlation between tightness, balance and mobility. Hamstrings and calf tightness shows highly positive correlation with TUG (r for hams and TUG = 9.45, r for calf and TUG =8.62) and highly negative correlation with FRT and BBS (r for hams and FRT, forward= -8.10, r for hams and FRT, backward = -7.75, r for hams and BBS = -7.06, r for calf and FRT, forward -9.62,r for calf and FRT, backward = -8.96, r for calf and BBS = -9.25).

Conclusion: Hamstrings and calf tightness shows highly positive correlation with mobility and highly negative correlation with static dynamic balance. Therefore the present study suggests that the correlation exists between tightness, static, dynamic balance and mobility.

Keywords: Mobility, TUG, FRT, BBS, AKET, Hamstring tightness, Calftightness

INTRODUCTION

Balance is one of the most important component of ambulation. Balance is a condition when all the forces acting on body are balanced and also centre of mass of body is within its stability limits1 (Susan B o'sullivan )At proper level of balance, forces acting on body from all direction will be equal. So person will maintain stability and...

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