scholarly journals Independent and Joint Associations of Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior with Older Adults’ Lower Limb Strength

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
Ting-Fu Lai ◽  
Chien-Yu Lin ◽  
Chien-Chih Chou ◽  
Wan-Chi Huang ◽  
Ming-Chun Hsueh ◽  
...  

Studies have indicated that sufficient physical activity levels and balanced dietary behavior are independently related to physical function in older populations; however, their joint association with physical function remain unclear. This study examined the independent and combined associations of sufficient physical activity and balanced selection of foods with lower limb strength among 122 older Taiwanese adults living in community (mean age: 69.9 ± 5.0 years). The assessments included accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and self-reported selection of foods. Lower limb strength performance was measured using the five times sit-to-stand test. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations in question before and after adjusting for potential confounders. The results showed that in the adjusted model, lower limb strength had no significant independent association with either meeting the recommended level of MVPA or balanced selection of foods. Compared to older adults who neither met the recommended MVPA level nor reported a balanced selection of foods, those who conformed to both these criteria were more likely to have better lower limb strength (odds ratio = 6.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.36–29.01) after adjusting for covariates. Health promotion initiatives addressing disability prevention for older adults need to consider promoting both MVPA and food selection.

Author(s):  
Marguerita Saadeh ◽  
Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga ◽  
Davide Liborio Vetrano ◽  
Philip von Rosen ◽  
Laura Fratiglioni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background One’s physical function and physical activity levels can predispose or protect from the development of respiratory infections. We aimed to explore the associations between pre-pandemic levels of physical function and physical activity and the development of COVID-19-like symptoms in Swedish older adults. Methods We analyzed data from 904 individuals aged ≥ 68 years from the population-based Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. COVID-19-like symptoms were assessed by phone interview (March–June 2020) and included fever, cough, sore throat and/or a cold, headache, pain in muscles, legs and joints, loss of taste and/or odor, breathing difficulties, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and eye inflammation. Muscle strength, mobility, and physical activity were examined in 2016–2018 by objective testing. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models in the total sample and stratifying by age. Results During the first outbreak of the pandemic, 325 (36%) individuals from our sample developed COVID-19-like symptoms. Those with slower performance in the chair stand test had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2.1) for presenting with COVID-19-like symptoms compared to better performers, after adjusting for potential confounders. The association was even higher among people aged ≥ 80 years (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5–4.7). No significant associations were found between walking speed or engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and the likelihood to develop COVID-19-like symptoms. Conclusion Poor muscle strength, a possible indicator of frailty, may predispose older adults to higher odds of developing COVID-19-like symptoms, especially among the oldest-old.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Dondzila ◽  
Ann M. Swartz ◽  
Kevin G. Keenan ◽  
Amy E. Harley ◽  
Razia Azen ◽  
...  

Introduction. It is unclear if community-based fitness resources (CBFR) translate to heightened activity levels within neighboring areas. The purpose of this study was to determine whether awareness and utilization of fitness resources and physical activity differed depending on residential distance from CBFR.Methods. Four hundred and seventeen older adults (72.9±7.7years) were randomly recruited from three spatial tiers (≤1.6, >1.6 to ≤3.2, and >3.2 to 8.0 km) surrounding seven senior centers, which housed CBFR. Participants completed questionnaires on health history, CBFR, and physical activity, gathering data on CBFR awareness, utilization, and barriers, overall levels, and predictors to engagement in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Results. Across spatial tiers, there were no differences in positive awareness rates of CBFR or CBFR utilization. Engagement in MVPA differed across spatial tiersP<0.001, with the >3.2 to 8.0 km radius having the highest mean energy expenditure. Across all sites, age and income levelP<0.05were significant predictors of low and high amounts of MVPA, respectively, and current health status and lack of interest represented barriers to CBFR utilizationP<0.05.Conclusion. Closer proximity to CBFR did not impact awareness or utilization rates and had an inverse relationship with physical activity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 136-136
Author(s):  
Jasmine Yee ◽  
Glen M Davis ◽  
Jane McNeil Beith ◽  
Nicholas Wilcken ◽  
Rina Hui ◽  
...  

136 Background: Women with metastatic breast cancer may survive for many years after disease onset, and there is little published evidence on their habitual levels of physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in physical activity levels and physical fitness between women with and without metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Seventy-one women with metastatic breast cancer (METS) aged 57.7 ± 9.5 y and 2.9 ± 3.1 y after disease onset, and 71 healthy controls (CONTROLS) aged 55.0 ± 9.4 y participated. Of those with metastatic disease, 27% had metastases in bone only, 35% in viscera only and 38% in both bone and viscera. Strength was measured using hand and leg dynamometry, aerobic fitness using the Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test, and fatigue with the FACT-Fatigue questionnaire. Participants wore a SenseWear physical activity armband over 6 days, and the average steps taken per day over 5 of these days, where there was a minimum wear time of 8 hours per day, was derived. Results: METS possessed lower aerobic fitness than CONTROLS (25.3 ± 5.4 versus 31.9 ± 6.1 ml·kg·min-1 respectively; p<0.01). METS were significantly weaker than CONTROLS. Lower limb strength for the METS and CONTROLS was 53.8 ± 23.7 versus 76.0 ± 27.4 kg and handgrip strength was 26.6 ± 6.0 versus 30.2 ± 6.4 kg. METS were also significantly less active, attaining only 57% of the daily step counts of CONTROLS. Fatigue was significantly higher in women with metastatic cancer compared to their healthy counterparts (38.0 ± 9.8 versus 46.3 ± 4.6; p<0.01). Correlation between fatigue with average steps per day (r=0.46), handgrip strength (r=0.29) and leg strength (r=0.26) was low in the METS group. Conclusions: Women living in the community with metastatic breast cancer are weaker, have lower aerobic fitness, and are relatively inactive compared to their healthy counterparts. Increased fatigue in these women is poorly associated with their decreased physical activity levels, hand and lower limb strength. Women with metastatic breast cancer may benefit from a program directed at improving their strength and fitness. Acknowledgements: Funded by National Breast Cancer Foundation, Australia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 811-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Elane Silva dos Santos ◽  
Sofia Wolker Manta ◽  
Guilherme Pereira Maximiano ◽  
Susana Cararo Confortin ◽  
Tânia Rosane Bertoldo Benedetti ◽  
...  

Background: To examine the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB), measured with accelerometers, in older adults from a city in southern Brazil according to sociodemographic and health characteristics.Methods: The sample consisted of 425 older adults (≥63 y) from the EpiFloripa Aging Study. Light physical activity (LPA), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and SB were measured with accelerometers over a period of 7 days.Results: The older adults spent two-thirds of the time of use in SB, one-third in LPA, and only 2.1% (95% confidence interval, 1.8–2.2) in MVPA. In the final adjusted model, lower levels of MVPA were observed for women, as well as higher SB and lower LPA and MVPA for those with higher age. There were also trends toward prolonged SB and lower LPA when participants had a higher educational level and toward lower MVPA with higher body mass index.Conclusions: Constant monitoring of physical activity levels and SB using objective measures is recommended and interventions should be directed at the groups most exposed to excessive SB and low levels of MVPA.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Orsega-Smith ◽  
Nancy Getchell ◽  
Lindsay Palkovitz

How does gender influence physical and psychosocial characteristics in physically active older adults? Much of the previous research on physical function in older women focuses on either the frailty of older women or on physical function irrespective of gender. These studies leave unknown the specific influence of regular physical activity on older women.Furthermore, few studies have examined the relationship between physical activity and psychosocial characteristics in older exercisers. We wanted to investigate whether differences exist between groups of older female and male adults who maintain a physically active lifestyle. Twenty-three female and 14 male physically active older adults performed physical function tests (i.e., chair stands, timed up-and-go, 6-minute walk) and filled out questionnaires related to psychosocial measures (i.e., social support, self-esteem, satisfaction with life). There were no differences in any physical function between the groups, and only one psychosocial measure (guidance) statistically differed (F (1, 31) = 4.14, p = .044). These results suggest that physically active women may not necessarily follow the trajectory towards frailty. More research needs to be done with a greater range of ages and physical activity levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S167-S168
Author(s):  
Kenneth Madden ◽  
Jocelyn Chase

Abstract Sedentary behavior (such as sitting) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for increased frailty and less successive aging, even in active individuals. Our study examined the clinical factors most associated with higher sedentary times (ST) in very active older adults. We recruited 54 adults from a Master’s ski team (Whistler, British Columbia; mean age 71.5±0.6 years, 55% female). Activity levels were measured using an accelerometer (SenseWear) worn continuously for 7 days. ST was defined as a lack of activity when not in the supine position, in order to exclude time spent sleeping. Potential predictor variables consisted of metabolic syndrome criteria (blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, fasting blood glucose), age, biological sex and heart rate. Predictors associated with ST (p&lt;0.10) were entered into a stepwise multivariate regression model. Our subjects were extremely active, engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 2.6±0.2 hours per day, greatly exceeding current activity guidelines. Despite these high activity levels, they were also sedentary for an average of 9.4±0.2 hours per day. Our final minimum effective model showed that waist circumference had a significant association with ST (Standardized β = 0.36±0.13, p=0.007), explaining 18% of the variation in ST. People are often subjectively unaware of how long they spend sedentary. Our study suggests, that in addition to promoting leisure time physical activity, physicians should also objectively measure ST in highly active older patients with high waist circumferences.


2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Hamdorf ◽  
Gary Starr ◽  
Mark Williams

Participation in physical activity declines with advancing age for a variety of reasons. The aim of this study was to assess the level of physical activity among older South Australians. Computer-aided telephone interviewing of 773 adults age 60 years and over was conducted using random-digit dialing. Rates of participation among adults age 60 years and over in walking and vigorous physical activity (68.1% and 11.7%, respectively) were significantly lower than for those age 18–59 years (77.6% and 38.9%, respectively). Walking was the most popular activity among those age 60 and over. The proportion reporting no physical activity rose from 7.0% in the 60- to 64-year age group to 25.7% in the 85+ group. The findings describe increases in physical inactivity coupled with declines in functional ability with advancing age and suggest that much work remains to fully understand how best to encourage older adults to remain physically active.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Fu Lai ◽  
Yung Liao ◽  
Chien-Yu Lin ◽  
Wan-Chi Huang ◽  
Ming-Chun Hsueh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The positive association between the total duration of physical activity and performances of physical function may vary at different times of the day as circadian rhythm regulates individuals in response to external stimulations. We aimed to examine the association of timing-specific and overall moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with performances of physical function in older adults. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 118 older adults (mean age = 70.0 ± 5.0 years). We assessed and identified timing-specific (morning: 06:01-12:00; afternoon: 12:01-18:00; evening: 18:01-24:00) and overall MVPA using a triaxial accelerometer. Different measures of physical function were evaluated including handgrip strength (by grip dynamometer), gait speed (five-meter walk test), basic functional mobility (timed up and go test), and lower limb strength (five times sit-to-stand test). Multivariate linear regression models adjusting for covariates were used to investigate the associations. Results Participants spent 0.4 hours in MVPA per day on average, half the time spent during the morning (47.7%), followed by during the afternoon (29.9%) and evening (21.6%). The time spent on overall MVPA was generally associated with better physical function performances. There was statistical evidence for the percentages of MVPA engagement during the morning ( B = 0.214, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001 to 0.428) and afternoon ( B = -0.273, 95% CI -0.518 to -0.027) associated with basic functional mobility but with contrary directions; the percentage of MVPA engagement during the evening was associated with less time spent in gait speed performance ( B = -0.237, 95% CI -0.468 to -0.006). Conclusions Our findings inform implications that the overall MVPA engagement was more important than timing-specific MVPA to older adults’ physical function performances. Strategies for accumulating time of MVPA is more practical and effective than encouraging to engage MVPA in specific timing for the enhancement of functional ability and therefore prevent disability among older adults.


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