Cognitive Impairment and Effects on Upper Body Strength of Adults with Dementia

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon D. Rogers ◽  
Shannon E. Jarrott
Keyword(s):  
Functional Disability ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Strength Loss ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Muscle Strengthening ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Exploratory Investigation ◽  
Upper Body Strength

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between cognitive ability and upper body muscle strength. Two sources of existing data were pooled for this examination. Thirty-eight older participants diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia (25 women, 13 men; age = 83.2 ± 5.6 years, MMSE score = 16.75 ± 7.04, M ± SD) underwent an assessment of grip strength via handheld dynamometry. Multiple-regression analysis indicated that cognitive status was a significant predictor of strength and, when combined in a model with age and sex, explained 57% of the between-individuals variance in handgrip strength. The findings from this exploratory investigation suggest that dementia is associated with strength loss, a key contributor to functional disability; this further justifies efforts to investigate mechanisms responsible for this decay and to preserve muscle integrity by integrating physical activity interventions, notably, muscle strengthening, into the lifestyle of adults with dementia.

scholarly journals Profiling and predicting performance of indoor rock climbers

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Arazi ◽  
Amir Rashidlamir ◽  
Mohammad Zahed Abolhasani ◽  
Somayeh Askari Hosaini
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Climbing Ability

The aim of this study is to establish somatotype and profile the anthropometric and biomotor characteristics of indoor rock climbers. Fourteen elite level male and ten recreational female Iranian indoor rock climbers completed a battery of tests. All anthropometric measurements were performed according to the recommendations of international standards for anthropometric assessment. Upper body strength and endurance were assessed by isometric tests. Explosive power and balance were also evaluated by Sargent jump and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), respectively. Samples’ somatotypes were calculated by the method of Heath and Carter. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and partial correlations were calculated and stepwise multiple regression analyses were implemented to determine a set of best predictors of elite male climbers’ ability. Shoulder width, body fat content, upper-body strength and endurance for females, showed the most correlation with the climbing ability (range: r = 0.46–0.7, p ≤ 0.05), while among the male samples, these correlations with the climbing ability were mostly between WHR, absolute and relative to body mass handgrip strength, SEBT performance and the left-hand digit ratio. The results of stepwise multiple regression revealed that the SEBT performance in the posterior direction of right foot stance and Upper Extremity Girth Index are able to explain 62% of the variance of climbing ability. It is likely that decreasing the fat mass has no direct impact on the climbers’ performance. Also, SEBT performance is able to predict 35% of climbing performance. Hence, it seems balance exercises could be effective in improvement of climbing performance. 

scholarly journals No clear evidence for correlations between handgrip strength and sexually dimorphic acoustic properties of voices

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengyang Han ◽  
Hongyi Wang ◽  
Vanessa Fasolt ◽  
Amanda C Hahn ◽  
Iris J Holzleitner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Physical Strength ◽  
Signal Value ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength

AbstractObjectivesRecent research on the signal value of masculine physical characteristics in men has focused on the possibility that such characteristics are valid cues of physical strength. However, evidence that sexually dimorphic vocal characteristics are correlated with physical strength is equivocal. Consequently, we undertook a further test for possible relationships between physical strength and masculine vocal characteristics.MethodsWe tested the putative relationships between White UK (N=115) and Chinese (N=106) participants’ handgrip strength (a widely used proxy for general upper-body strength) and five sexually dimorphic acoustic properties of voices: fundamental frequency (F0), fundamental frequency’s standard deviation (F0-SD), formant dispersion (Df), formant position (Pf), and estimated vocal-tract length (VTL).ResultsAnalyses revealed no clear evidence that stronger individuals had more masculine voices.ConclusionsOur results do not support the hypothesis that masculine vocal characteristics are a valid cue of physical strength.

scholarly journals Upper body strength endurance evaluation: A comparison between the handgrip strength and three body weight tests

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ewan Thomas ◽  
Vincenzo Gennaro ◽  
Giuseppe Battaglia ◽  
Marianna Bellafiore ◽  
Angelo Iovane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grip Strength ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Three Body ◽  
Test Repetition

BACKGROUND: The hand-grip strength test has been widely adopted to evaluate upper limb strength. Other field based tests as push-ups and pull-ups are commonly used for the same purpose. It is however unclear if these may be used interchangeably for upper body strength evaluation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate strength endurance of the upper body and understand which test could be the most appropriate for upper body evaluation. METHODS: Thirty-eight healthy young male participants were tested with three tests comprised of: 1) push-ups (PS), 2) pull-ups (PL) and 3) parallel dips (PD) performed to exhaustion. Grip strength (GS), total number of repetitions, time-to-complete the test, repetition cadence and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were also retrieved for investigation. RESULTS: Repetitions, time-to-complete the test and repetition cadence significantly differed across the three tests (p< 0.001). No difference in the RPE was present. No correlation was present between GS and the other tests. No correlation was present between RPE and performance values and time-to-complete the tests. BMI was positively correlated to RPE in all tests. All tests strongly correlate to each other (PS vs. PL r= 0.55; PS vs. PD r= 0.64; PL vs. PD r= 0.70) and to time-to-complete the test (PS r= 0.79; PL r= 0.69; PD r= 0.66). Only the results of the PD correlate to their respective repetition cadence (r= 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: GS is not suitable to evaluate strength endurance. PS, PL and PD are all suitable to evaluate strength endurance. However, PD may be preferred to evaluate the upper body, if velocity also needs to be taken into account.

scholarly journals The effect of elbow position on the handgrip strength test in children: validity and reliability of TKK 5101 and DynX dynamometers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Stefan Kolimechkov ◽  
Jose Castro-Piñero ◽  
Lubomir Petrov ◽  
Albena Alexandrova
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Strength Test ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
The Difference

Background and Study Aim: One of the most widely applied methods to assess upper-body strength in children and adolescents is the handgrip strength test. While in adolescents it has been determined which elbow position, and which type of dynamometer are most appropriate for achieving the maximal grip strength, in children is still not clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether elbow position and the type of dynamometer affect the handgrip strength in children. Material and Methods: Grip strength was measured by TKK and DynX dynamometers, and their validity and reliability were also analysed. A total of 60 children, 6 to 11 years old, participated in this study, and performed the handgrip strength test with their elbow extended and flexed at 90°. Results: While using the TKK dynamometer, grip strength was significantly higher when the test was performed with elbow extended, in contrast to those obtained with elbow flexed (14.58±3.04 kg vs 12.97±2.99 kg, p<0.001 for right, and 14.25±3.05 kg vs 12.61±2.99 kg, p<0.001 for left hand). Likewise, when using the DynX dynamometer, the difference between the two elbow positions was smaller but still significant (13.84±3.22 kg vs 13.35±3.01 kg, p=0.035 for right, and 13.35±2.95 kg vs 12.77±2.96 kg, p=0.003 for left hand). Conclusions: Both dynamometers provided sufficient results in terms of their reliability and the TKK dynamometer showed to be more valid. Performing the handgrip strength test with elbow extended appears to be the most appropriate position in order to obtain maximal results in children.

scholarly journals Using Anthropometric Data and Physical Fitness Scores to Predict Selection in a National U19 Rugby Union Team

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1499
Author(s):  
Luis Vaz ◽  
Wilbur Kraak ◽  
Marco Batista ◽  
Samuel Honório ◽  
Hélder Miguel Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
National Team ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Run Test

The purpose of this study was to compare measures of anthropometry characteristics and physical fitness performance between rugby union players (17.9 ± 0.5 years old) recruited (n = 39) and non-recruited (n = 145) to the Portuguese under-19 (U19) national team, controlling for their playing position (forwards or backs). Standardized anthropometric, physical, and performance assessment tests included players’ body mass and height, push up and pull-up test, squat test, sit-and-reach test, 20 m shuttle run test, flexed arm hang test, Sargent test, handgrip strength test, Illinois agility test, and 20-m and 50-m sprint test. Results showed that recruited forwards players had better agility scores (p = 0.02, ES = −0.55) than the non-recruited forwards, whereas recruited backs players had higher right (p < 0.01, ES = 0.84) and left (p = 0.01, ES = 0.74) handgrip strength scores than their counterparts. Logistic regression showed that better agility (for the forwards) and right handgrip strength scores (for the backs) were the only variables significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being recruited to the national team. In sum, these findings suggest that certain well-developed physical qualities, namely, agility for the forwards players and upper-body strength for the back players, partially explain the selection of U19 rugby players to their national team.

scholarly journals Influences of Differing Menarche Status on Motor Capabilities of Girls, 13 To 16 Years: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5539
Author(s):  
Barry Gerber ◽  
Anita E. Pienaar ◽  
Ankebe Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Motor Fitness ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
The Status ◽  
Hand Eye Coordination ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
D Values

Puberty and the onset of menarche influences the motor performance of girls. However, the magnitude of these influences during varying maturity status, is not clear. This longitudinal study over two years aimed to investigate differences in motor fitness between early and late developing girls based on pre- and post-menarche status. A convenience sample (n = 58) of girls aged 13.51 ± 3.51, divided by means of the Status Quo method into pre (n = 13) and post-menarche (n = 45) groups, was used. Motor fitness was tested once annually by standardized protocols. Basic statistics, independent t-testing and a repeated measures ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferonni correction were used (p < 0.05 = statistical significance). Effect sizes were determined by Cohen’s d-values. Only explosive upper body strength differed significantly between groups during baseline, favoring post-menarche girls. Initially, post-menarche girls showed advantages in hand-eye coordination and speed (p > 0.05) with pre-menarche girls performing better in agility and explosive leg strength (p > 0.05). At 15.51 years, no significant, between-group differences were found. Pre-menarche girls surpassed post-menarche girls in hand-eye coordination and 0–40 m speed and post-menarche girls displayed higher explosive leg and upper body strength scores (p > 0.05). Our data show that the potential to excel in sport based on motor capabilities can only be accurately estimated 1–2 years after reaching menarche.

scholarly journals An Eye Tracking Examination of Men’s Attractiveness by Conceptive Risk Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 147470491769074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Garza ◽  
Roberto R. Heredia ◽  
Anna B. Cieślicka
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Hispanic Women ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Body Hair ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Visual Attraction ◽  
Physical Shape

Previous research has indicated that women prefer men who exhibit an android physical appearance where fat distribution is deposited on the upper body (i.e., shoulders and arms) and abdomen. This ideal physical shape has been associated with perceived dominance, health, and immunocompetence. Although research has investigated attractability of men with these ideal characteristics, research on how women visually perceive these characteristics is limited. The current study investigated visual perception and attraction toward men in Hispanic women of Mexican American descent. Women exposed to a front-posed image, where the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and hair distribution were manipulated, rated men’s body image associated with upper body strength (low WCR 0.7) as more attractive. Additionally, conceptive risk did not play a strong role in attractiveness and visual attention. Hair distribution did not contribute to increased ratings of attraction but did contribute to visual attraction when measuring total time where men with both facial and body hair were viewed longer. These findings suggest that physical characteristics in men exhibiting upper body strength and dominance are strong predictors of visual attraction.

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