The association of locomotive and non-locomotive physical activity measured by an accelerometer with functional fitness in healthy elderly men: a pilot study

The Relationships Among Chronic Pain Subtypes, Motor Function, and Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

We investigated the relationships among motor function, physical activity, and the characteristics of chronic pain (the number of pain sites, pain intensity, and pain-type).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

An ongoing community-based prospective study conducted in Itoshima, Japan.

SUBJECTS

Community-dwelling Japanese aged 65-75 years (n = 805; 401 men, 404 women).

MEASURES

Chronic pain subtypes were examined in terms of the number of pain sites, pain intensity, and pain type. Motor function was evaluated by handgrip strength, walking speed, and the 5 Times Stand-up and Sit Test (FTSST). Locomotive activity, non-locomotive activity, and sedentary time were evaluated by a tri-axial accelerometer as physical-activity parameters.

ANALYSIS

Multiple regression model adjusting for age, sex, education level, employment status, subjective economic status, body mass index, cognitive function, comorbidity, current tobacco use, current alcohol consumption, and regular exercise.

RESULTS

In a multivariate analysis, the subjects' walking speed was negatively associated with multisite, moderate-to-severe, and neuropathic-like pain. The FTSST was positively associated with single-site, moderate-to-severe, and neuropathic-like pain. There was no significant association between handgrip strength and any chronic pain subtypes. Locomotive activity was negatively related to multisite, moderate-to-severe, and neuropathic-like pain, but there was no clear association between the amount of non-locomotive activity, sedentary time, and chronic pain subtypes.

CONCLUSION

Severe chronic pain was associated with decreased locomotion-related motor function and physical activity.

Effects of a High-Intensity Interval Physical Exercise Program on Cognition, Physical Performance, and Electroencephalogram Patterns in Korean Elderly People: A Pilot Study

Background and Purpose

The effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on functional brain changes in older adults remain unclear. This preliminary study aimed to explore the effect of physical exercise intervention (PEI), including HIIT, on cognitive function, physical performance, and electroencephalogram patterns in Korean elderly people.

Methods

We enrolled six non-dementia participants aged >65 years from a community health center. PEI was conducted at the community health center for 4 weeks, three times/week, and 50 min/day. PEI, including HIIT, involved aerobic exercise, resistance training (muscle strength), flexibility, and balance. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis.

Results

After the PEI, there was improvement in the 30-second sit-to-stand test result (16.2±7.0 times vs. 24.8±5.5 times, p=0.027), 2-minute stationary march result (98.3±27.2 times vs. 143.7±36.9 times, p=0.027), T-wall response time (104.2±55.8 seconds vs.71.0±19.4 seconds, p=0.028), memory score (89.6±21.6 vs. 111.0±19.1, p=0.028), executive function score (33.3±5.3 vs. 37.0±5.1, p=0.046), and total Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment score (214.6±30.6 vs. 241.6±22.8, p=0.028). Electroencephalography demonstrated that the beta power in the frontal region was increased, while the theta power in the temporal region was decreased (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Our HIIT PEI program effectively improved cognitive function, physical fitness, and electroencephalographic markers in elderly individuals; thus, it could be beneficial for improving functional brain activity in this population.

Associations between locomotive and non-locomotive physical activity and physical performance in older community-dwelling females with and without locomotive syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Background

Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition of reduced mobility due to a disorder of the locomotive system. Increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been recommended to prevent LS. However, to increase daily MVPA is difficult for older people with LS. The MVPA consists of not only locomotive activities such as walking but also non-locomotive activities such as household activities. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between locomotive/non-locomotive MVPA and physical performance in older females with and without LS.

Methods

Participants of this cross-sectional study were 143 older community-dwelling Japanese females. The participants were divided into two groups based on the results of the stand-up test: the normal group (NL) (n = 86) and the LS group (n = 57). Both the locomotive and non-locomotive PA seperately measured with its intensity. The intensity of physical activity (PA) was calculated as METs and classified as sedentary behavior (SB 1–1.5 metabolic equivalent tasks (METs)), low-intensity physical activity (LPA 1.6–2.9 METs), and MVPA (≥ 3 METs). For example, locomotive LPA is slow walking speed of 54 m/min, and locomotive MVPA is walking speed of 67 m/min. While non-locomotive LPA is office work and cooking, non-locomotive MVPA is housecleaning. Physical function was evaluated by handgrip strength, walking speed, and 2-step test.

Results

Walking speed, hand-grip strength, 2-step test, daily step counts, and all PA measurements were not significantly different between two groups. In the LS, locomotive MVPA (r = 0.293, p < 0.05) and total MVPA (r = 0.299, p < 0.05) was significantly correlated with walking speed, but not in the NL.

Conclusions

Walking speed was positively correlated with locomotive MVPA and total MVPA in the LS group, but not in NL group. This result suggests that slow walking speed in older people with LS occur in connection with lower locomotive MVPA and total MVPA.

The association of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior with skeletal muscle strength and muscle power in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Engaging in physical activity (PA) and avoiding sedentary behavior (SB) are important for healthy ageing with benefits including the mitigation of disability and mortality. Whether benefits extend to key determinants of disability and mortality, namely muscle strength and muscle power, is unclear.

AIMS

This systematic review aimed to describe the association of objective measures of PA and SB with measures of skeletal muscle strength and muscle power in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

Six databases were searched from their inception to June 21^st, 2020 for articles reporting associations between objectively measured PA and SB and upper body or lower body muscle strength or muscle power in community dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. An overview of associations was visualized by effect direction heat maps, standardized effect sizes were estimated with albatross plots and summarized in box plots. Articles reporting adjusted standardized regression coefficients (β) were included in meta-analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 112 articles were included representing 43,796 individuals (range: 21 to 3726 per article) with a mean or median age from 61.0 to 88.0 years (mean 56.4 % female). Higher PA measures and lower SB were associated with better upper body muscle strength (hand grip strength), upper body muscle power (arm curl), lower body muscle strength, and lower body muscle power (chair stand test). Median standardized effect sizes were consistently larger for measures of PA and SB with lower compared to upper body muscle strength and muscle power. The meta-analyses of adjusted β coefficients confirmed the associations between total PA (TPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and light PA (LPA) with hand grip strength (β = 0.041, β = 0.057, and β = 0.070, respectively, all p ≤ 0.001), and TPA and MVPA with chair stand test (β = 0.199 and β = 0.211, respectively, all p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher PA and lower SB are associated with greater skeletal muscle strength and muscle power, particularly with the chair stand test.

Feasibility of a 12 Week Physical Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline and Disability in the At-Risk Elderly Population in Korea

There is a need for measures that can prevent the onset of dementia in the rapidly aging population. Reportedly, sustained physical exercise can prevent cognitive decline and disability. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a 12-week physical exercise intervention (PEI) for delay of cognitive decline and disability in the at-risk elderly population in Korea. Twenty-six participants (aged 67.9 ± 3.6 years, 84.6% female) at risk of dementia were assigned to facility-based PEI (n = 15) or home-based PEI (n = 11). The PEI program consisted of muscle strength training, aerobic exercise, balance, and stretching using portable aids. Feasibility was assessed by retention and adherence rates. Physical fitness/cognitive function were compared before and after the PEI. Retention and adherence rates were 86.7% and 88.3%, respectively, for facility-based PEI and 81.8% and 62.3% for home-based PEI. No intervention-related adverse events were reported. Leg strength/endurance and cardiopulmonary endurance were improved in both groups: 30 s sit-to-stand test (facility-based, p = 0.002; home-based, p = 0.002) and 2 -min stationary march (facility-based, p = 0.001; home-based, p = 0.022). Cognitive function was improved only after facility-based PEI (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive total score, p = 0.009; story memory test on Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment, p = 0.026). We found that, whereas our PEI is feasible, the home-based program needs supplementation to improve adherence.

Diurnal Profiles of Locomotive and Household Activities Using an Accelerometer in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The present study investigates the diurnal profiles of locomotive and household activities in older adults with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) using an accelerometer. Furthermore, we examined the effect of chronic pain on their diurnal profiles in both activities. Seventy-one older adults with MSDs (73-89 years) were included in this cross-sectional survey, and 25 age-matched older adults (75-86 years) were selected as healthy older adults. The daily physical activities, including steps walked and locomotive and household activity intensities, were recorded using a triaxial accelerometer in terms of metabolic equivalent task-hours per week (MET-h/week). The diurnal profiles of steps and locomotive activities in older adults with MSDs were considerably lower than those of healthy older adults. In contrast, there was no significant decline in household activity. However, the locomotive and household activities were reduced by severe chronic pain. This survey demonstrated that the diurnal profiles of household activity in older people with MSDs as well as those in age-matched healthy older adults were maintained. Furthermore, severe chronic pain influenced both activities. Therefore, the maintenance of household activity throughout the day, as well as the management of chronic pain, may be important strategies for the promotion of physical activity in older people with MSDs.

Evaluation of motor function using the two-step test in type C day care service

[Purpose] Evaluation of motor function in preventive care services using a convenient method is necessary. The two-step test is clinically useful in evaluating motor function. Thus, we aimed to assess motor function using the two-step test in day care service type C. [Participants and Methods] The two-step test value and motor function used in day care service type C were evaluated in 23 elderly females (mean age: 77.4 ± 6.7 years). [Results] Timed Up and Go test and two-step test results were highly correlated. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the factors constituting the two-step test showed a dynamic balance. Intervention for step or dynamic balance is important to improve the gait ability of elderly females in type C day care service.