Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:16:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlineNFF.pdf: 379709 bytes, checksum: 44c23be7352ccc9831638b9fb0e757bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-30 / Human aging is physiological process causes alterations in several systems of the organism. In the musculoskeletal system, a main change is the decreased muscle strength, that in the lower extremity, compromises the ability to respond quickly with enough strength to prevent falls, causing alterations in postural balance. Currently, many researchers have study the human frailty, defined as a multifactorial syndrome, with excess of vulnerability to stressors, reducing ability in maintaining or regulating homeostasis. Its characteristics are directly related to physical function. Aim: To analyze muscle performance and postural balance in frail and pre-frail elderly women, and to compare them according with the frailty phenotypes criteria proposed by Fried 2001. Method: 39 frail elderly women living in the community, aged 65 years and older, were assessed muscle performance of lower extremity using isokinetic dynamometer and postural balance using Berg s balance scale and computerized baropodometry. Results: There was significant difference in plantar flexor, knee flexor and knee extensor strength, in anteroposterior (AP) oscillation with eyes open and on Berg s scores between groups. A weak correlation was observed between strength and balance. Conclusion: The results suggest that the frail elderly present worse muscle performance in lower extremity and worse postural balance compared to the pre-frail elderly. There were correlations between muscle performance and balance impairments in these elderly, but several variables are also involved in maintaining postural balance / Introdu??o: o envelhecimento humano ? um processo fisiol?gico que gera altera??es nos diversos sistemas do organismo. No sistema musculoesquel?tico, a principal mudan?a gerada ? o decr?scimo da for?a muscular, que nos membros inferiores, compromete a habilidade de responder rapidamente e com for?a suficiente para prevenir quedas, levando a altera??es no equil?brio postural. Atualmente, muitos p esquisadores t?m estudado a fragilidade humana, que ? definida como uma s?ndrome de car?ter multifatorial, em que ocorre um excesso de vulnerabilidade aos estressores, com redu??o na habilidade de manter ou regular a homeostasia. Estas caracter?sticas est?o diretamente relacionadas a fun??o f?sica. Objetivo: analisar par?metros do desempenho muscular e equil?brio postural entre idosas fr?geis e pr?-fr?geis, e compar?-los com os crit?rios do fen?tipo de fragilidade propostos por Fried et al 2001. Metodologia: 39 idosas fr?geis comunit?rias, acima de 65 anos, foram avaliadas quanto aos par?metros do desempenho muscular do membro inferior atrav?s do dinam?metro isocin?tico, e do equil?brio postural na Escala de Equil?brio de Berg e na Baropodometria Computadorizada. Resultados: houve diferen?a significativa na for?a dos flexores-plantares, e flexores e extensores do joelho, na oscila??o ?ntero-posterior com olhos abertos e nos escores do Berg entre os grupos. Foi observada correla??o entre a for?a e o equil?brio. Conclus?o: os resultados sugerem que idosas fr?geis apresentam altera??es no desempenho muscular e equil?brio mais significativas do que as pr?-fr?geis. Correla??es entre desempenho muscular e d?ficits de equil?brio est?o presentes nessas idosas, todavia outras vari?veis est?o envolvidas na manuten??o do equil?brio postural