Expiratory and Inspiratory Action of Transversus Abdominis During Eupnea and Hypercapnic Ventilation

Relationship between respiratory muscle strength and dynamic balance in older persons requiring care or support: Focusing on the maximal single step length test and maximal double step length test as dynamic balance indices

BACKGROUND

Falls are a major health problem. The relationship between dynamic balance related to falls and respiratory muscle strength related to sarcopenia and frailty is poorly understood.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How do dynamic balance measures, such as maximal single step length test (MSL) and maximal double step length test (MDST), and respiratory muscle strength measures, such as maximal inspiratory (PImax) and maximal expiratory (PEmax), related to the requirement for long-term care or support in older people who live in the community?

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 39 older people (17 men, 22 women) aged ≥ 65 years community-dwelling who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants' PImax, PEmax, MSL, and MDST results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

MDST showed a positive correlation with PImax (r = 0.430, p = 0.006) but no correlation with PEmax. MSL showed no correlation with PImax or PEmax. A positive correlation was found between MDST and MSL (r = 0.851, p < 0.001), and multiple regression analysis with MDST as the dependent variable and PImax and MST as independent variables showed significant differences for MSL (p < 0.001) and PImax (p = 0.027).

SIGNIFICANCE

In older people requiring long-term care or support, MDST had a greater association with inspiratory muscle strength compared with MSL. These results suggest the importance of inspiratory muscle strength training and MDST assessment in the prevention of falls in older people requiring long-term care or support.

Relationship between walking speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance in community-dwelling older people who required long-term care or support and used a daycare center

Background

Focusing on the relationship between frail older people and gait speed is vital to minimize the need for long-term care or increased support. The relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance, is not well understood in older people requiring long-term care or support. Therefore, this study aimed to provide new insights into the relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance in community-dwelling older people who required long-term care or support and used a daycare center.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 49 community-dwelling older people (21 men, 28 women) aged ≥65 years who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants' maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), walking speed (maximal and normal walking speed), and maximal double-step length test (MDST) results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.

Results

Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed correlations between PImax and the following: maximal walking speed (r = 0.606, p < 0.001), normal walking speed (r = 0.487, p < 0.001), and MDST (r = 0.435, p = 0.002). Correlations were also observed between PEmax and the following: maximal walking speed (r = 0.522, p < 0.001), normal walking speed (r = 0.467, p < 0.001), and MDST (r = 0.314, p = 0.028). Moreover, a correlation was found between MDST and both maximal walking speed and (r = 0.684, p < 0.001) and normal walking speed (r = 0.649, p < 0.001). The effect size was 0.379. Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with maximal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that maximal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST (p < 0.001) and PEmax (p = 0.036), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.593 (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with normal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that normal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST (p < 0.001) and PEmax (p = 0.021), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.497 (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with MDST as the dependent variable showed that MDST was significantly associated with PImax (p < 0.025), with an effect size of 0.243. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.148 (p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Respiratory muscle strength and dynamic balance were related to walking speed in older people requiring long-term care or support.