Investigation of a Motor Function Assessment Method for Musculoskeletal Ambulation Disability Symptom Complex (MADS): One-leg Standing, TUG Times and Walking Ability

[Purpose] We investigated the relationships between the measurement values of one-leg standing time with eyes open (one-leg stand) and the timed up-and-go test (TUG), which are assessment items of musculoskeletal ambulation disability symptom complex (MADS), and walking ability [Subjects] The subjects were 522 community-dwelling elderly [Method] We analyzed the correlations between walking ability and one-leg stand and TUG. In addition, we divided the subjects into two groups, those who could stand for more than 15 s on one leg with their eyes open (15Can) and those who could not (15Not), and compared walking ability between the two groups. [Results] We found significant correlations between TUG and one-leg stand with walking ability. Furthermore, walking ability of the 15Not group was significantly lower than that of the 15Can group. [Conclusion] One-leg stand and TUG showed significant correlations with walking ability, indicating that they are simple and easy assessment items which reflect the decline of walking ability. Furthermore, These results suggest that a motor function assessment of MADS with a 15-second boundary for one-leg stand is clinically significant for identifying decline in walking ability.