Relationship between 30-second one-leg standing time with eyes open and physical function of elderly men

Purpose: We investigated the clinical significance of maintenance of 30-second one-leg standing with eyes open by elderly men through its relationship with physical function. Subjects: The subjects were 57 elderly men who participated in a health survey. Methods: For those who could maintain one-leg standing for 30 s (Poss group) and those who could not (Nposs group), we performed analysis of covariance for spinal alignment in the sagittal plane, quadriceps femoris strength, toe-grip strength, maximum walking speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 10-m obstacle course, and 6-min walking distance with age as the covariate. Results: With the exception of the thoracic kyphosis angle all of the other measured items showed significant differences between the two groups, and the Poss group showed high ability Conclusion: The clear difference in physical function between those who could maintain one-leg standing for 30 s and those who could not, suggests that this measure has clinical significance.