Associations of Social Network Characteristics With Gait Speed in Older Women From Physical Activity Community Groups

Author(s):  
Carlos M. Arango-Paternina ◽  
Jhon F. Ramírez-Villada ◽  
Annie A. Tibaduiza-Romero ◽  
Leonardo Rodríguez-Perdomo

The identification of social network factors associated with gait speed may offer different perspectives for improving community and clinical interventions for older adults. The objective of this study was to explore the associations of the social network of friends with gait speed. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 128 older adult women recruited in community groups of physical activity. Clinical screening, social network questions, body composition evaluation, and gait speed test were applied to the participants. Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between characteristics of the social network of friends and high gait speed. Findings indicated that social isolation was not associated with high gait speed and that popularity and proportion of friends with high gait speed were significantly associated with high gait speed. Findings suggested that there was a relationship between social network factors and the ability to perform high gait speed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Adinda Maharani ◽  
Avliya Quratul Marjan ◽  
Luh Desi Puspareni

<p>This study aims to analyze the relation between fiber intake, cholesterol, nutritional status, and physical activity with blood cholesterol level on adult women. The study design was a cross sectional study. The study involved 60 adult women (aged 40-64 y.o) in the Sanggar Senam Bugar Sehat Bogor as respondent. The analysis used was Chi-square test to assess the relation between variables. The result showed a signinificant relation of physical activity (p value=0,027, OR=0,098 ; 95% CI=0,012-0,809), fiber intake (p value=0,046, OR=7,724 ; 95% CI=0,918-64,260), and cholesterol intake (p value=0,000, OR=16,00 ; 95% CI=3,398-75,345) with blood cholesterol level. It is concluded that blood cholesterol levels are influenced by eating pattern, physical activities, and routine medical check up.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clécio Gabriel Souza ◽  
Marcelo Cardoso Souza ◽  
Hugo Jario Silva ◽  
Sanderson Assis ◽  
Diego Sousa Dantas

Abstract Background: Rheumatic diseases are increasingly present in the world population, represented by chronic joint and musculoskeletal pain. Among them, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent. It is considered the third most prevalent chronic non-communicable disease in the Brazilian population, being responsible for a high rate of physical disability and reduced quality of life. Little has been discussed about the social factors associated with this health condition. This study aimed to analyze the social factors associated with arthritis in the Brazilian population.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2013 National Health Survey in Brazil with arthritis as its main outcome. Sex, age, body weight, usual activities, physical activity, self-perceived health and diagnosis of depression were analyzed as independent variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Poisson multiple regression was performed, and the prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence interval (CI) of 95% were calculated using a significance level of 5% (p≤0.05).Results: A total of 60,202 individuals of both sexes took part in this study and the rheumatic diseases or arthrtitis prevalence was 6.4%. The individual factors associated with a higher prevalence of arthritis were female (PR = 2.09; CI = 1.95-2.25), age over 35 years (PR = 2.88; CI = 2.57-3.24) and excess body weight (PR = 1.61; CI = 1.25-2.07). The presence of rhemautic diseases showed an association with lower performance of usual activities (PR = 1.61; CI = 1.50-1.73) and self-perceived health as very poor (PR = 3.96; CI = 3.31-4.72). In addition, it was associated with a higher prevalence of mental illnesses such as depression (PR = 1.77; CI = 1.64-1.90).Conclusion: Social and modifiable factors which are associated with a higher prevalence of arthritis can be controlled through incentive measures such as social participation and physical activity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Aranda-García ◽  
Albert Busquets ◽  
Antoni Planas ◽  
Joan A. Prat-Subirana ◽  
Rosa M. Angulo-Barroso

Purpose:Gait speed is related to physical function in older adults. This cross-sectional study examined the best predictors of maximal gait speed (MGS) among physical abilities, and general factors in healthy, rural community-dwelling older adults.Methods:MGS, muscle strength, and postural sway were measured in 55 community-dwelling participants (age, 72.1 ± 6.8, range 61–87 years; 72.7% women). Two stepwise regressions were used to find MGS predictors in two models: physical abilities and global.Results:Strength of knee extensors with 60° of knee flexion (KStrength60°) and maximal distance in the anterior-posterior direction with eyes closed explained 50.2% of MGS variance (p < .05) in the physical abilities model. KStrength60°, age, and level of physical activity explained 63.9% of MGS variance (p < .05) in the global model.Conclusions:Regardless of the model, KStrength60° was the best predictor of MGS in rural female older adults. Future research should examine the generalization of these findings to rural male older adults.


Author(s):  
Alice Martins Magalhães ◽  
Daniella Macedo Cerceau ◽  
Kênia Kiefer Parreiras de Menezes ◽  
Gabriela Vieira Oliveira ◽  
Bárbara Batista Gomes

Background: Sarcopenia is the involuntary loss of muscle mass predicted by aging and is associated with an increased likelihood ofunfavorable results, such as falls, mortality and functional disabilities. Objective: Evaluate balance, gait speed, lower limb strength andfunctionality in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out with 68 subjects aged 60 years orover, residents of the community and possessing an independent gait. The assessment instruments were bioimpedance, balance test,four-meter gait speed test, chair support test and SPPB. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia in the population of the present studywas 43.3%. In the group of non-sarcopenic subjects, a correlation was found between all the variables evaluated. In the group ofsarcopenic subjects, a correlation was found between lower limbs strength and gait speed. Conclusion: The skeletal muscle mass ofa sarcopenic elderly is related to their lower limb strength and gait speed, but it does not present a significant correlation with balanceand functional performance. Further studies are needed to clarify the behavior of balance, gait speed, lower limb strength and functionalperformance variables when compared to the decrease in muscle mass inherent in aging.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Brito dos Santos ◽  
Caroline Wanderley Souto Ferreira ◽  
Caroline Gomes Gonçalves ◽  
Mikaela Aparecida de Oliveira Xavier ◽  
Jardelina Hermecina Dantas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The present study aims to analyse if dysmenorrhea is associated with activity limitations and participation restrictions in experencied by adult women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out with adult women recruited from primary health services in Brazil between 2016 and 2017. Dysmenorrhea was measured via a self-report and the activity limitation and participation restrictions was assessed by the World Health Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS2.0). Pain and level of physical activity were assessed, respectively, by the numerical pain rating scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. Associations between groups, dysmenorrhea and without dysmenorrhea (WD), were analysed by the median difference, Mann Whitney test, effect size measures and 95 % confidence interval. Statistical significance was p <0.05. Results The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 54 %. The pain lasted an average of three days or more (66 %). The average pain intensity, in the crisis period, was 6.1 ± 2.6, women who presented severe pain complaints were associated with considerable difficulties in their domains of mobility (p = 0.003; 2 = 0.115), participation (p = 0.030; 2 = 0.063) and total score (p = 0.012; 2 = 0.086), with a moderate effect size for all variables. Conclusions Severe dysmenorrhea was associated with higher scores of disabilities assessed by the WHODAS 2.0, especially in mobility, and participation domains.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clécio Gabriel Souza ◽  
Marcelo Cardoso Souza ◽  
Hugo Jario Silva ◽  
Sanderson Assis ◽  
Diego Sousa Dantas

Abstract Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered the third most prevalent chronic non-communicable disease in the Brazilian population, being responsible for a high rate of physical disability and reduced quality of life. Little has been discussed about the social factors associated with this health condition. This study aimed to analyze the social factors associated with OA in the Brazilian population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2013 National Health Survey in Brazil with OA as its main outcome. Gender, age, body weight, usual activities, physical activity, self-perceived health and diagnosis of depression were analyzed as independent variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Poisson multiple regression was performed, and the prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence interval (CI) of 95% were calculated using a significance level of 5% (p≤0.05). Results: A total of 60,202 individuals of both genders took part in this study and the OA prevalence was 6.4%. The individual factors associated with a higher prevalence of OA were female gender (PR = 2.09; CI = 1.95-2.25), age over 35 years (PR = 2.88; CI = 2.57-3.24) and excess body weight (PR = 1.61; CI = 1.25-2.07). The presence of OA showed an association with lower performance of usual activities (PR = 1.61; CI = 1.50-1.73) and self-perceived health as very poor (PR = 3.96; CI = 3.31-4.72). In addition, it was associated with a higher prevalence of mental illnesses such as depression (PR = 1.77; CI = 1.64-1.90). Conclusion: Social and modifiable factors which are associated with a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis can be controlled through incentive measures such as social participation and physical activity.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e044617
Author(s):  
Constanza Jacques-Aviñó ◽  
Tomàs López-Jiménez ◽  
Laura Medina-Perucha ◽  
Jeroen de Bont ◽  
Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves ◽  
...  

ObjectiveLockdown has impacts on people’s living conditions and mental health. The study aims to assess the relations between social impact and mental health among adults living in Spain during COVID-19 lockdown measures, taking a gender-based approach into account.Design, setting and participantsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among adults living in Spain during the lockdown of COVID-19 with an online survey from 8 April to 28 May 2020. The main variable was mental health measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale for anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression. Sex-stratified multivariate ordinal logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between social impact variables, anxiety and depression.ResultsA total of 7053 people completed this survey. A total of 31.2% of women and 17.7% of men reported anxiety. Depression levels were reported in 28.5% of women and 16.7% of men. A higher proportion of anxiety and depression levels was found in the younger population (18–35 years), especially in women. Poorer mental health was mainly related to fear of COVID-19 infection, with higher anxiety levels especially in women (adjusted ordinal OR (aOR): 4.23, 95% CI 3.68 to 4.87) and worsened economy with higher levels of depression in women (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.84), and perceived inadequate housing to cope with lockdown was especially associated with anxiety in men (aOR: 2.53, 95% CI 1.93 to 3.44).ConclusionThe social impact of the lockdown is related to gender, age and socioeconomic conditions. Women and young people had worse mental health outcomes during lockdown. It is urgent to establish strategies for public health emergencies that include mental health and its determinants, taking a gender-based approach into account, in order to reduce health inequities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232110296
Author(s):  
Francesco Brigo ◽  
Marta Ponzano ◽  
Maria Pia Sormani ◽  
Marinella Clerico ◽  
Gianmarco Abbadessa ◽  
...  

Background: Digital health, including telemedicine, is increasingly recommended for the management of chronic neurological disorders, and it has changed the roles of patients and clinicians. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the digital work engagement of Italian neurologists through a survey collected between September 2020 and January 2021. Questionnaires were anonymous and collected demographic characteristics, attitudes towards digital devices and social media, and details about the clinician–patient relationship. We used logistic-regression models to identify characteristics associated with the propensity to communicate with patients using social media. Results: Among the 553 neurologists who participated to the study, smartphones and computers were widely preferred compared with tablets; wearable devices were not common, although some neurologists desired them. A total of 48% of participants reported communicating with patients using social media but only a few were in favor of social friendship with patients; WhatsApp was the social media most popular for professional (86%) and personal (98%) purposes. Propensity to communicate with social media was significantly higher among those who were older ( p < 0.001) and lived in regions outside northern Italy (center: p = 0.006; south and the islands: p < 0.001). For 58% of responders, social media improved their relationship with patients, but 72% usually warned patients about unreliable websites. Conclusions: The preferred social media were those which were rapid and which safeguard privacy more effectively; neurologists made many efforts to disprove fake news circulating online, providing help to patients in various ways. This analysis can help direct future interventions for the management of chronic neurological disorders.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3258
Author(s):  
Minh H. Nguyen ◽  
Thu T. M. Pham ◽  
Dinh N. Vu ◽  
Binh N. Do ◽  
Hoang C. Nguyen ◽  
...  

Background: Healthy eating and physical activity are effective non-pharmacological approaches to boost immune function and contain the pandemic. We aimed to explore the associations and interactions between physical activity and healthy eating behavior with COVID-19-like symptoms (Slike-CV19S). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3947 outpatients, from 14 February to 2 March 2020, at nine health facilities in Vietnam. Data collection included sociodemographic characteristics, healthy eating behavior (using the healthy eating score (HES) questionnaire), physical activity (using the short form international physical activity questionnaire), and Slike-CV19S. The associations and interactions were tested using logistic regression models. Results: Frequent intake of fruits (OR = 0.84; p = 0.016), vegetables (OR = 0.72; p = 0.036), and fish (OR = 0.43; p < 0.001) were associated with a lower Slike-CV19S likelihood, as compared with infrequent intake. Patients with higher HES levels (OR = 0.84; p = 0.033 for medium HES; OR = 0.77; p = 0.006 for high HES) or being physically active (OR = 0.69; p < 0.001) had a lower Slike-CV19S likelihood, as compared to those with low HES or physical inactivity, respectively. Patients with medium HES who were physically active (OR = 0.69; p = 0.005), or with high HES and physically active (OR = 0.58; p < 0.001), had a lower Slike-CV19S likelihood, as compared to those with low HES and physical inactivity. Conclusions: Healthy eating behavior and physical activity showed single and combinative impacts on protecting people from Slike-CV19S. Strategic approaches are encouraged to improve healthy behaviors, which may further contribute to containing the pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Maria Petersen ◽  
Eva Kemps ◽  
Lucy K Lewis ◽  
Ivanka Prichard

BACKGROUND In today’s society, commercial physical activity apps (eg, Fitbit and Strava) are ubiquitous and hold considerable potential to increase physical activity behavior. Many commercial physical activity apps incorporate social components, in particular app-specific communities (allowing users to interact with other app users) or the capacity to connect to existing social networking platforms (eg, Facebook or Instagram). There is a growing need to gain greater insights into whether commercial physical activity apps and specific components of these apps (social components) are beneficial in facilitating physical activity. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the relationship between the use of commercial physical activity apps and engagement in physical activity. The social components of commercial physical activity apps (app-specific communities and existing social networking platforms) were also explored. This involved isolating specific features (eg, sharing, providing, and receiving encouragement, comparisons, and competitions) of app-specific communities and existing social networking platforms that were most valuable in facilitating physical activity. METHODS A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted. Participants were 1432 adults (mean age 34.1 years, 1256/1432, 88.00% female) who completed measures assessing physical activity, the use of commercial physical activity apps, and engagement with app-specific communities and existing social networking platforms. RESULTS Overall, 53.14% (761/1432) of the sample reported engaging with a commercial physical activity app. The most commonly used apps were Fitbit (171/761, 22.5%), Strava (130/761, 17.1%), and Garmin (102/761, 13.4%). The use of physical activity apps was significantly associated with physical activity. Notably, the use of app-specific communities and existing social networking platforms facilitated significantly greater engagement in physical activity. The features of app-specific communities that were most beneficial in promoting engagement in physical activity were providing encouragement to a partner, receiving encouragement from close friends and family, and engaging in competitions with members of public app-specific communities. In relation to existing social networking platforms, sharing physical activity posts predicted engagement in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that app-specific communities and existing social networking platforms are components of apps that are fundamental in facilitating physical activity. They further suggest that commercial physical activity apps afford high population level reach and hold great potential to promote engagement in physical activity, an important public health consideration.


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