FUNCTIONAL GAIT PERFORMANCE, ANKLE RANGE OF MOTION, AND FALLS IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY. Ralph Garcia*; Stella Dvorin; Israel Juskowicz; Regina Khaimova; Shlomo Swinkin Physical Therapy, Touro College, New York, NY PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between functional gait performance and ankle range of motion (ROM) in community- dwelling older fallers and non-fallers. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: Decreases in gait performance in older adults who are fallers may be related to diminished strength, balance and tactile sensation. Research has demonstrated a relationship between the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) gait subtest score and bilateral total ankle active assist ROM in community-dwelling older women. The relationship between functional gait performance and ankle ROM should be investigated to help clinicians identify impairments that may increase the risk of falls in community-dwelling older adults. SUBJECTS: Convenience sample of 41 community-dwelling older adults between the ages of 65 and 98 (mean age = 77.93 ± 7.70 years old). METHODS AND MATERIALS: A health questionnaire was used to determine subject eligibility and as a self-report of falling. Subjects were categorized as fallers (reported 1 or more falls within the past 6-12 months) or non-fallers (reported no falls within the past 6-12 months). Goniometry was used to measure bilateral ankle active- assistive ROM. Functional gait performance was assessed with the GAITRite Portable Walkway System.™ ANALYSES: Functional gait performance data were correlated with ankle ROM using either Kendall’s tau-b (KTB) when the data did not meet the assumption of normality or the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PCC) when the data met the assumption of normality. RESULTS: Significant, moderate correlations ranging from −0.424 to 0.725 were found between ankle ROM and several functional gait performance parameters in the fallers group. Bilateral dorsiflexion and planterflexion ROM were correlated to step length, stride length, double support, and velocity (p < .05). Significant, moderate correlations ranging from 0.442 to 0.557 were found using composite ankle ROM measurements with step length, stride length, and velocity. Correlations between ankle ROM and functional gait performance in the non-fallers group were either weak or nonexistent. CONCLUSIONS: Correlations exists between ankle ROM and functional gait performance in community-dwelling older fallers. Changes in ankle ROM may affect functional gait performance and subsequently lead to falls in older adults. Future research should focus on comparing different interventions specific to ankle ROM and their effects on functional gait performance. FUNDING SOURCE: None. KEYWORDS: Gait, Community-dwelling Older Adults, Ankle Range of Motion Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.