Associations between short one-leg standing time and speed of sound of calcaneal bone in a general population: The Shimanami Health Promoting Program (J-SHIPP) study
Tomoko Kido, 1 Yasuharu Tabara, 2,3 Michiya Igase, 1 Eri Uetani, 1 Namiko Ochi, 1 Tetsuro Miki 1,3 and Katsuhiko Kohara1 1,3
 Departments of 1Geriatric Medicine and   2 Basic Medical Research and Education, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, and   3 Proteo-Medicine Research Center, Ehime University, Toon City, Japan
Correspondence to  Dr Yasuharu Tabara PhD, Department of Basic Medical Research and Education, Ehime University, School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. Email: tabara@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Copyright © 2009 Japan Geriatrics Society
The journal Of Geriatrics & Gerontology International, December 2009

Aim:  Loss of bone mass is a major cause of fracture in the elderly. One-leg standing (OLS) time has been postulated to be predictive of reduced bone mass. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study to clarify whether OLS time measurements are associated with the speed of sound (SOS) of calcaneal bone independent of muscle mass in the lower extremity, a major confounding factor for the association, in a community-dwelling population of middle-aged to elderly subjects.

Methods:  The study subjects consisted of 770 apparently healthy middle-aged to elderly community-residents. Quantitative assessment of calcaneal bone was done using a quantitative ultrasound technique. OLS time with eyes open was measured with a maximum time of 60 s. Femoral muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured from a computed tomography image.

Results:  Subjects who could not stand 60 s on one leg (n = 192) showed significantly lower SOS (1487 ± 20, 1501 ± 24 m/s, P < 0.001). In addition, femoral muscle CSA was positively associated with SOS (male, r = 0.148, P < 0.01; female, r = 0.204, P < 0.001). However, multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and muscle CSA identified short OLS time less than 60 s as an independent determinant of SOS in both male (P < 0.001) and female (P < 0.05) subjects. OLS time was significantly associated with posturograph-measured mobility of the center of gravity. However, multiple regression analysis showed no significant correlation between balance impairment and SOS (P > 0.1).

Conclusion:  OLS time less than 60 s was significantly associated with reduced SOS independent of age, sex and muscle mass in the lower extremity.