Força de membros inferiores como indicador de incapacidade funcional em idosos

Relationship between Lifestyle and Residence Area with 25(OH)D Levels in Older Adults

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the habitat of older adults living in the urban and rural areas is a contributing factor to altered serum 25(OH)D levels. An analytical, cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach was conducted in the upper backwoods of Paraíba with older adults registered at the Reference Center for Social Assistance (CRAS), addressing residents of both rural area (n = 41) and urban area (n = 43) who were randomly chosen to participate in the study. Data collection took place between January and February 2020. Higher rates of handgrip strength were observed in rural older adults (29.22 ± 8.92 Kgf) with serum 25(OH)D levels in the range of 30 to 40 ng/mL when compared to older adults with concentrations below 30 ng/mL (21.82 ± 5.00 Kgf) and above 40 ng/mL (23.47 ± 6.88 Kgf). Older people living in the urban area, with 25(OH)D levels above 40 ng/mL, presented a lower muscle power index when compared to individuals with vitamin levels from 21 to 29 ng/mL (17.40 ± 6.34 s; 15.33 ± 2.00 s). The urbanization associated with 25(OH)D levels can cause changes in skeletal and respiratory muscle strength, because the habitat associated with 25(OH)D levels affects the parameters of muscle strength of the upper limbs for older adults living in a rural area and the muscle strength of the lower limbs for those living in an urban area.

Reliability of HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-Reported Version for Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective: Verify the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the HOME FAST BRAZIL—Self-reported version and correlate household environmental risks with the history of falls by community-dwelling older adults.

Method: Cross sectional study with 50 community-dwelling older adults who were screened by the cut-off point of the Mini Mental State Exam and replied to the HOME FAST BRAZIL—Self-reported version using two evaluators, on three occasions. The reliability analysis was determined by the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), considering ICC > 0.70 as adequate. To test the correlations, the Spearman test was used.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 73.2 ± 5.8 years. The inter- rater reliability of HOME FAST BRAZIL—Self-reported version was ICC 0.83 (IC95%, 0.70–0.90) and the Intra- reliability ICC 0.85 (IC95%, 0.74–0.91). A risk of falls was verified in 88% of the sample and four environmental risks presented significant correlations with the history of falls.

Conclusions: The HOME FAST BRAZIL—Self-reported version presented adequate reliability for the evaluation of household environmental risks for community-dwelling older adults. Risks such as inadequate armchairs/ sofas, the absence of anti-slip mats in the shower recess, the presence of pets and inadequate beds require attention in the evaluation of household risks, due to their correlation with the occurrence of falls.

Efeitos da eletroestimulação neuromuscular de quadríceps sobre a funcionalidade de idosos frágeis e pré-frágeis hospitalizados: ensaio clínico randomizado

RESUMO Este artigo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da eletroestimulação neuromuscular (EENM) sobre a funcionalidade de idosos frágeis e pré-frágeis hospitalizados. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado com 17 idosos hospitalizados. Foram avaliados dados antropométricos, socioeconômicos e clínicos, seguido da escala proposta por Fried para identificação da síndrome da fragilidade. Além disso, foram avaliados a perimetria da coxa e a força de membros inferiores pelo Medical Research Council (MRC) e teste de sentar e levantar (TSL). Os pacientes foram randomizados em grupo-controle (GC; n=9), com idade de 67,7±6,9 anos e grupo intervenção (GI; n=8), com idade de 71,2±5,6 anos. Ambos os grupos receberam atendimento de fisioterapia convencional. O protocolo de EENM foi aplicado somente no grupo intervenção. Os grupos foram semelhantes quanto ao perfil sociodemográfico, antropométrico, quanto às características clínicas e quanto ao uso contínuo de medicamentos. Houve efeitos significativos da EENM quando comparados ao GC para perimetria da coxa direita (p=0,03); para o número de repetições no TSL (p=0,004) e para a força muscular do quadríceps (p=0,01), avaliados pela escala MRC. O treinamento muscular de quadríceps com a EENM foi efetivo nos idosos frágeis e pré-frágeis hospitalizados, promovendo aumento da força e do desempenho funcional.