One-leg standing test in older adults with left-right differences; does dominant foot distinctly decide?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics

Background:

• The one leg standing test (OLST) is crucial for assessing age-related motor function decline.
• Aging leads to decreased OLST performance and increased left-right balance asymmetry.
• The concept of dominant and non-dominant lower limbs is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between dominant foot and one leg standing test (OLST) performance in older adults.
• To explore how foot dominance influences balance and locomotive function.
• To analyze left-right differences in OLST performance in relation to aging and motor decline.

Main Methods:

• 519 orthopedic outpatients completed the Waterloo footedness questionnaire-revised (WFQ-R) to determine foot dominance.
• Participants underwent assessments for locomotive syndrome, including the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), two-step test, and standing-up test.
• Objective measures of the righting reflex and the one leg standing test (OLST) were performed to assess standing time and left-right differences.

Main Results:

• While foot dominance determination had some ambiguity, self-recognition showed good agreement with objective findings.
• Locomotive grade correlated with OLST decline, but no consistent left-right difference pattern emerged.
• Standing time did not consistently favor the dominant or non-dominant leg; leg dominance for longer standing time switched in 30.4% of cases.

Conclusions:

• OLST performance declines with age, with some individuals showing increased left-right asymmetry.
• No consistent pattern was observed in the magnitude of left-right balance differences.
• As motor function declines, the leg exhibiting longer standing time may shift, indicating dynamic balance changes.