scholarly journals Comparison of the Acute Effects of Hold-Relax and Static Stretching among Older Adults

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Nakamura ◽  
Shigeru Sato ◽  
Ryosuke Kiyono ◽  
Kaoru Yahata ◽  
Riku Yoshida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Post Hoc

Various stretching techniques are generally recommended to counteract age-related declines in range of motion (ROM) and/or increased muscle stiffness. However, to date, an effective stretching technique has not yet been established for older adults. Consequently, we compared the acute effects of hold relax stretching (HRS) and static stretching (SS) on dorsiflexion (DF) ROM and muscle stiffness among older adults. Overall, 15 elderly men and nine elderly women (70.2 ± 3.9 years, 160.8 ± 7.8 cm, 59.6 ± 9.7 kg) were enrolled, and both legs were randomized to either HRS or SS stretching. We measured DF ROM and muscle stiffness using a dynamometer and ultrasonography before and after 120 s of HRS or SS interventions. Our multivariate analysis indicated no significant interaction effects, but a main effect for DF ROM. Post-hoc tests revealed that DF ROM was increased after both HRS and SS interventions. Moreover, multivariate analysis showed a significant interaction effect for muscle stiffness. Post-hoc tests revealed that muscle stiffness was decreased significantly after only SS intervention. Taken together, our results indicated that both HRS and SS interventions are recommended to increase ROM, and SS is recommended to decrease muscle stiffness in older adults.

scholarly journals Older Adults Overcome Reduced Triceps Surae Structural Stiffness to Preserve Ankle Joint Quasi-Stiffness During Walking

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Krupenevich ◽  
William H. Clark ◽  
Gregory S. Sawicki ◽  
Jason R. Franz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Ankle Joint ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Triceps Surae Muscle ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Lower Ankle Joint

Ankle joint quasi-stiffness is an aggregate measure of the interaction between triceps surae muscle stiffness and Achilles tendon stiffness. This interaction may be altered due to age-related changes in the structural properties and functional behavior of the Achilles tendon and triceps surae muscles. The authors hypothesized that, due to a more compliant of Achilles’ tendon, older adults would exhibit lower ankle joint quasi-stiffness than young adults during walking and during isolated contractions at matched triceps surae muscle activations. The authors also hypothesized that, independent of age, triceps surae muscle stiffness and ankle joint quasi-stiffness would increase with triceps surae muscle activation. The authors used conventional gait analysis in one experiment and, in another, electromyographic biofeedback and in vivo ultrasound imaging applied during isolated contractions. The authors found no difference in ankle joint quasi-stiffness between young and older adults during walking. Conversely, this study found that (1) young and older adults modulated ankle joint quasi-stiffness via activation-dependent changes in triceps surae muscle length–tension behavior and (2) at matched activation, older adults exhibited lower ankle joint quasi-stiffness than young adults. Despite age-related reductions during isolated contractions, ankle joint quasi-stiffness was maintained in older adults during walking, which may be governed via activation-mediated increases in muscle stiffness.

Bend Don’t Break: Stretching Improves Scores on a Battery of Fall Assessment Tools in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-84
Author(s):  
Nathan F. Johnson ◽  
Chloe Hutchinson ◽  
Kaitlyn Hargett ◽  
Kyle Kosik ◽  
Phillip Gribble
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Flexibility Training ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Context: Falls and loss of autonomy are often attributed in large part to musculoskeletal impairments in later adulthood. Age-related declines in flexibility contribute to late adulthood musculoskeletal impairment. The novel sitting-rising test has been proposed to be a quick, effective screening of musculoskeletal fitness, fall risk, and all-cause mortality in older adults. The timed up and go and 5 times sit-to-stand tests are two of the 3 most evidence-supported performance measures to assess fall risk. Objective: This study aimed to determine if 5 weeks of flexibility training could increase sitting-rising test, timed up and go, and 5 times sit-to-stand scores in community-dwelling older adults. Participants: Forty-seven adults aged 60 years and older (mean age = 66.7 y, SD = 4.1) participated in this study. Participants completed a static stretching protocol consisting of 3 weekly 1-hour stretching sessions. Results: The protocol improved flexibility as seen in sit-and-reach scores and improved scores on all outcome variables. Specifically, there was a significant increase in sitting-rising test scores from preintervention (M = 7.45, SD = 1.45) to postintervention (M = 8.04, SD = 1.36), t(42) = −5.21, P < .001. Timed up and go scores demonstrated a significant decrease from preintervention (M = 8.85, SD = 1.32) to postintervention (M = 8.20, SD = 1.35), t(46) = 5.10, P < .001. Five times sit-to-stand scores demonstrated a significant decrease from preintervention (M = 12.57, SD = 2.68) to postintervention (M = 10.46, SD = 2.06), t(46) = 6.62, P < .001. Finally, significant increases in sit-and-reach scores were associated with improved functional performance (r = −.308, P = .03). Conclusion: Findings suggest that flexibility training can be an effective mode of low-level exercise to improve functional outcomes. Static stretching may help to improve musculoskeletal health, promote autonomy, and decrease mortality in community-dwelling older adults.

Children's and Parents' Anxiety Levels pre and post Thoracoplasty. Play Specialist-based Intervention beneficial Outcomes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Giulia Federica Perasso ◽  
Chiara Allegri ◽  
Gloria Camurati ◽  
Nicola Disma ◽  
Michele Torre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Paediatric Surgery ◽  
Pectus Carinatum ◽  
Pediatric Hospital ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
The Impact

Paediatric surgery elicits anxiety in children and their parents. The present study tests the impact of Play Specialist-based intervention (PS) on children's and parents' anxiety pre and post thoracoplasty. The study was held at Gaslini pediatric hospital (Genoa, Italy) and involved families with a child undergoing thoracoplasty to correct children's pectus carinatum (PC) or excavatum (PE). Children provided with PS-based intervention (n=40) were compared with control children (n=32). The mothers of PS children (n=40) were compared with the control mothers (n=32), and the fathers of PS children (n=40) were compared with the control fathers (n=32). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was administered to assess pre and post thoracoplasty anxiety. T-tests and Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA), Bayes factors for t-tests and ANCOVA were computed. A significant interaction effect between time and group (i.e., PS and controls) emerged for children, mothers, and fathers. Bonferroni post-hoc analyses revealed that PS children's and PS mothers' postoperative anxiety was lower than controls' postoperative anxiety. PS fathers' experienced greater preoperative anxiety than controls and no significant differences with control fathers emerged in postoperative anxiety. PS-based intervention emerged to reduce children's and parents' anxiety over time, and to diminish children's and mothers' postoperative anxiety in comparison with the controls.

scholarly journals Acute effects of static stretching on the shear elastic moduli of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in young and elderly women

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Nakamura ◽  
Tome Ikezoe ◽  
Satoru Nishishita ◽  
Jun Umehara ◽  
Misaka Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Moduli ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

Visual-Somatosensory Integration in Older Adults: Links to Sensory Functioning

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 397-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Dumas ◽  
Roee Holtzer ◽  
Jeannette R. Mahoney
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Stimulus Condition ◽  
Facilitation Effect ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Somatosensory Sensitivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions

Research investigating multisensory integration (MSI) processes in aging is scarce, but converging evidence for larger behavioral MSI effects in older compared to younger adults exists. The current study employed a three-prong approach to determine whether inherent age-related sensory processing declines were associated with larger (i.e., worse) visual-somatosensory (VS) reaction time (RT) facilitation effects. Non-demented older adults (; mean age = 77 years; 55% female) without any medical or psychiatric conditions were included. Participants were instructed to make speeded foot-pedal responses as soon as they detected visual, somatosensory, or VS stimulation. Visual acuity was assessed using the Snellen test while somatosensory sensitivity was determined using vibration thresholds. The aims of the current study were to: (1) replicate a reliable MSI effect; (2) investigate the effect of unisensory functioning on VS RT facilitation; and (3) determine whether sensory functioning combination groups manifested differential MSI effects. Results revealed a significant VS RT facilitation effect that was influenced by somatosensory sensitivity but not visual acuity. That is, older adults with poor somatosensory sensitivity demonstrated significantly larger MSI effects than those with intact somatosensory sensitivity. Additionally, a significant interaction between stimulus condition and sensory functioning group suggested that the group with poor visual acuity and poor somatosensory functioning demonstrated the largest MSI effect compared to the other groups. In summary, the current study reveals that worse somatosensory functioning is associated with larger MSI effects in older adults. To our knowledge, this is first study to identify potential mechanisms behind increased RT facilitation in aging.

scholarly journals Acute Effects of Stretching on Passive Properties of Human Gastrocnemius Muscle–Tendon Unit: Analysis of Differences Between Hold-Relax and Static Stretching

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Nakamura ◽  
Tome Ikezoe ◽  
Takahiro Tokugawa ◽  
Noriaki Ichihashi
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Percentage Change ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Passive Torque ◽  
History Of

Context:Hold–relax stretching (HRS) and static stretching (SS) are commonly used to increase joint range of motion (ROM) and decrease muscle stiffness. However, whether there are differences between acute effects of HRS and SS on end ROM, passive torque, and muscle stiffness is unclear. In addition, any differences between the mechanisms by which HRS and SS lead to an increase in end ROM are unclear.Objective:To compare the acute effects of HRS and SS on the passive properties of the gastrocnemius muscle–tendon unit (MTU), end ROM, passive torque, and muscle stiffness in vivo and to investigate the factors involved in increasing end ROM.Design:Crossover experimental design.Participants:30 healthy men (21.7 ± 1.2 y) with no history of neuromuscular disease or musculoskeletal injury involving the lower limbs.Intervention:Both HRS and SS of 30 s were repeated 4 times, lasting a total of 2 min.Main Outcome Measures:End ROM, passive torque, and muscle stiffness were measured during passive ankle dorsiflexion using a dynamometer and ultrasonography before and immediately after HRS and SS.Results:The results showed that end ROM and passive torque at end ROM significantly increased immediately after both HRS and SS, whereas muscle stiffness significantly decreased. In addition, the percentage change in passive torque at end ROM on use of the HRS technique was significantly higher than that after use of the SS technique. However, the percentage change in muscle stiffness after SS was significantly higher than that with HRS.Conclusion:These results suggest that both HRS and SS can effectively decrease muscle stiffness of the gastrocnemius MTU and that HRS induces a change in the passive torque at end ROM—ie, sensory perception—rather than changing muscle stiffness.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF COGNITIVE TESTING ON STATE ANXIETY AND CORTISOL REACTIVITY IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S708-S708
Author(s):  
MacKenzie L Hughes ◽  
Ann Pearman ◽  
Shevaun D Neupert
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Testing Session ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Although it is well established that stress is negatively associated with cognitive functioning, less is known about age differences in the effects of stressors and anxiety on state anxiety and physiological reactivity (i.e., changes in cortisol). The current study examined state anxiety and cortisol reactivity during a series of cognitive tasks in a sample of younger (n=26) and older (n=29) adults. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory prior to cognitive testing and provided six salivary cortisol samples throughout one testing session: two cortisol samples prior to cognitive testing, three samples during testing, and one sample after testing. Six cognitive tasks were administered that measured attention span, declarative memory, and processing speed. Results indicated a significant interaction effect of age by time with younger adults’ cortisol linearly decreasing during the testing session and older adults’ cortisol showing a quadratic trend. A second interaction was found between age and state anxiety whereby older adults who reported more anxiety had higher cortisol levels during the cognitive testing session than both the older adults who reported low levels of anxiety and the younger adults. Only age (not cortisol or anxiety) was significantly related to cognitive performance. Results from this study suggest that standard cognitive testing could be anxiety producing for older adults, particularly for those who are already anxious. Future investigations should examine age-related differences in the processes linking anxiety and cortisol to specific types of performance, such as memory and attention.

Age-Related Differences in Performance Using a Mouse and Trackball

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bohan ◽  
Alex Chaparro
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Motor Control ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Target Characteristics

Aging is marked by changes in motor control which may be expected to affect performance using computer pointing devices. In this experiment, we compared older and younger adults' ability to acquire on-screen targets of varying distance and size using a mouse and trackball. The older adults moved consistently slower than their younger counterparts with both devices, particularly when making large amplitude movements. Error rates were equivalent for both age groups across all conditions. Analysis of throughput values indicated a significant interaction between age and device in which the younger adults' performance was more degraded when using the trackball than the mouse, while the older adults' performance did not vary across devices. These results are discussed in terms of potential error-averse strategies employed by the older participants in an attempt to compensate for age-related declines in motor control. Although the performance measures obtained in this study imply that older adults would perform equivalently using either the mouse or the trackball, it is not known whether these results generalize to other experimental conditions including different movement tasks, and target characteristics.

scholarly journals The Who and When of Worry: The Fading Impact of Gender on Worry and Anxiety Severity Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 372-372
Author(s):  
Katie Granier ◽  
Rebecca Ingram ◽  
Daniel Segal
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Younger Men ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Introduction. This study examined the influence of age and gender on diverse worry constructs and overall anxiety among younger (age 18-30) and older (age 65+) adults. Methods. 411 participants (311 younger, 100 older adults; 77.1% female) completed the PSWQ, BMWS, WDQ, and GAS online. Results. Among a series of 2x2 between-subjects ANOVAs, significant interaction effects between age and gender were found among all worry and anxiety measures. Specifically, there was a significant interaction effect on worry severity as measured by the PSWQ (F[1, 393]=4.28, p&lt;.05), the WDQ (F[1, 397]=8.42, p&lt;.01) and the BMWS (F[1, 396]=10.41, p&lt;.01). Gender had a larger impact on worry among younger adults than older, though both age groups showed similar patterns of women reporting greater worry than men. Though both younger and older adults showed a gender difference in worry severity, this difference was mitigated by late life. There was also an interaction effect on anxiety (GAS total) in that younger women reported greater anxiety than younger men but older adults reported similar anxiety across genders, F(1, 384)=9.78, p&lt;.01. Simple main effects analysis showed that younger women scored higher than older women on all measures of worry and anxiety, whereas younger men scored higher than older men on the PSWQ and WDQ but not the BMWS or GAS. Discussion. Consistent with previous literature, women reported greater worry and anxiety than men. However, this difference was mitigated and even extinguished among some measures in older adults. Possible explanations are discussed.

scholarly journals In-depth analyses of the effects of a diet and resistance exercise intervention in older adults: who benefits most from ProMuscle in Practice?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berber G Dorhout ◽  
Esmée L Doets ◽  
Ellen J I van Dongen ◽  
Lisette C P G M de Groot ◽  
Annemien Haveman-Nies
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Resistance Exercise ◽  
Lean Body Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Leg Extension ◽  
Leg Press

Abstract Background The ProMuscle in Practice intervention, comprising resistance exercise and an increased protein intake, was effective in improving muscle strength, lean body mass, and physical functioning in older adults aged ≥65 years (N=168). However, a heterogeneous response to such interventions is common. Therefore, we explored the differences in responsiveness to the intervention in subgroups based on demographic characteristics and mobility-impairing disorders. Methods Multiple regression analyses were performed to study mean changes between baseline and 12 weeks on the Short Physical Performance Battery, chair rise test, lean body mass, knee extension strength, leg press strength, and leg extension strength. The interaction term treatment x subgroup was included to study differences in effects between subgroups. Subgroups comprised age (≤75 vs. &gt;75 years), sex (men vs. women), presence of frailty, presence of sarcopenia, and presence of osteoarthritis. Results A significant interaction effect including age was found on lean body mass (β=-0.8, 95% CI: -1.5; -0.2), favoring participants aged ≤75 years. A significant interaction effect including sex was found on leg press strength (β=15.5, 95% CI: 0.6; 30.3), favoring women. Participants with or without frailty, sarcopenia, or osteoarthritis responded equally to the intervention in terms of absolute effects. Conclusions Participants aged ≤75 years and women benefited to a great extent from the intervention, as they improved significantly on nearly every outcome. Effects in participants with and without a mobility-impairing disorder were comparable, indicating that the intervention is suitable for both groups.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document