ABSTRACT
Background: Handgrip strength is an important predictor of functional performance among older adults. Aim: To measure handgrip strength in older adults and relate its values to their clinical functional assessment. Material and Methods: Handgrip strength was measured in 1047 older adults living in the community and aged 71.9 ± 7 years (740 and 307 females). The values obtained were grouped by age, gender and functional condition. The latter was assessed using a score validated in Chile (Functional Assessment of Older Adults or EFAM), that classifies participants as autonomous without risk, autonomous in risk and in risk of becoming non-autonomous. Results: In women, hand grip strength values were 17.4 ± 5.6 and 18.7 ± 5.7 kg for left and right hand; figures for men were 30.6 ± 7.8 and 31.8 ± 8.3 kg, respectively. According the functional assessment, the figures for autonomous without risk, autonomous with risk and with risk of becoming non-autonomous participants, were 23.5 ± 9.7, 21.8 ± 9.1 and 19.3 ± 8.2 respectively. Conclusions: There is an association between the degrees of functional performance of older people and handgrip strength.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Hand Strength/physiology , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Chile , Sex Factors , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Background: The six minute walk test (6MWT) is an important physical performance measure used in older people. Aim: To assess the total distance walked and the physiological cost of the 6MWT in non-disabled older people. Material and Methods: Fifty six females aged 69 ± 5 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 31 ± 4 kg/m² and sixteen males aged 70 ± 7 years with a BIM of 29 ± 4 kg/m² underwent a 6MWT. The total distance walked was registered and the physiological cost (PC) of the test was calculated as the ratio between the difference of heart rate at work and at rest and the walking speed. The socioeconomic status (SES) of participants was determined using a questionnaire designed in Chile. Results: Among participants of middle-lower and middle-upper SES, the PC was 0.43 ± 0.1 and 0.44 ± 0.09 beats/min, respectively, p = NS. Males of middle-upper SES had a significantly higher PC than their middle-lower SES counterparts. The total distance walked was 493 ± 58 and 501 ± 63 m among participants of upper and lower SES. The plateau in reserve heart rate appeared earlier among participants of upper SES of both genders. Conclusions: Older participants of middle-upper SES had a higher physiological efficiency during the execution of the 6MWT.
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Exercise Test/methods , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Sex Factors , Social Class , Walking/physiology , Arterial Pressure/physiology , Body Mass Index , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Heart Rate/physiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Background: The Preventive Health Examination of older people in Chile incorporates the timed up and go (TUG) and right and left unipodal stance test (RUPS and LUPS) as functional assessment methods. Aim: To assess if TUG and LUPS discriminate older people with different degrees of disability. Material and Methods: TUG, RUPS and LUPS were assessed in 860 participants aged 71.3 ± 6.9 years (591 females) attending a primary health care clinic. The results of the three tests were expressed in seconds. Participants were classified as non-disabled without any risk, non-disabled with risk and in risk of dependence, using the Functional Assessment of Older People of EFAM (the Spanish acronym), previously validated for Chilean older people. Results: In all participants TUG, LUPS and RUPS values were 8.9 ± 3.6, 10 ± 10.6 and 9.7 ± 10.3 seconds (sec) respectively. Among non-disabled participants without risk, the values for TUG, RUPS and LUPS were: 7.9 ± 2.3, 12.7 ± 11.1 and 12.2 ± 10.9 sec respectively. The figures for non-disabled participants with risk were 8.4 ± 2.6, 8.8 ± 9.8 and 8.9 ± 9.8 sec respectively. The figures for participants in risk of dependence were 11.7 ± 5.3, 5.1 ± 7.8 and 4.5 ± 7.1 sec, respectively. Conclusions: In this group of older participants there is an association between the degree of disability and the results of TUG, RUPS and LUPS.