Association between physical functioning with cognition among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study / Associação entre função física e cognição em idosos da comunidade: estudo transversal

OBJECTIVE: Declines in physical and cognitive functioning often co-exist through aging. Gait-related parameters have been related to cognitive function, although it is unclear whether other measures of physical functioning are similarly related to cognition. Here, we analyzed the relationship between physical functioning with cognition in older adults. METHODS: In total, baseline data of 116 dementia-free older adults recruited from two separated clinical trials (RCT) were included (M age = 69 years, SD = 6; 71% women). We quantified cognitive functioning using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and executive functioning tasks (Digit Span Forward minus Backward and verbal fluency ­ FAS and animal naming). Physical function measures included gait speed, Short-physical Performance Battery (SPPB), five-times Sit-to-Stand Test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the Six-minute Walk Test (6MWT), and lower extremity muscle strength. We used multiple linear regression analyses to explore the association between cognitive measures and each measure of physical functioning, adjusting for age, sex, education, and RCT. Regression coeficients (b), standard error (SE) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to summarize main results. RESULTS: We observed a positive association between muscle strength and the MoCA (b = 0.84, SE = 0.40, 95%CI 0.05­1.64) after controlling for covariates. Significant associations were also found between the five-times-sit-to-stand test (b = -0.63, SE = 0.26, 95%CI -1.15­-0.12), TUG (b = -1.13, SE = 0.57, 95%CI -2.26­-0.01), 6MWT (b = 0.04, SE = 0.02, 95%CI 0.01­0.07), and lower extremity muscle strength (b = 1.92, SE = 0.93, 95%CI 0.09­3.77) with the FAS verbal fluency test, and between the TUG (b = -0.62, SE = 0.24, 95%CI -1.11­-0.14) with animal naming. CONCLUSION: In community-dwelling older adults, higher levels of muscle strength, dynamic balance and cardiorespiratory fitness were positively related with global cognition and executive control measures.

Does the stretching intensity matter when targeting a range of motion gains? a randomized trial

Abstract Aims: To verify the effects of flexibility training conducted at different intensities in young adults. Methods: Twenty-one (21) young adults of both genders with no history of surgery, fracture, and/or rheumatic diseases in the lower limbs and hip, were randomly assigned to low intensity (LI) or high intensity (HI) stretching groups. Two researchers were assigned to evaluate the active knee extension range of motion (ROM) of the volunteers and two other researchers were responsible for the training program. The training consisted of a single exercise for the hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus). Each session consisted of three repetitions of passive static stretching, maintained for the 60s each, with 30s interval between them, and performed three times a week for four weeks. The stretching intensity was based on the Numerical Verbal Scale, the LI group maintained the intensity between 1 and 2, while the HI group between 9 and 10. Three ROM evaluations were performed pre-intervention, after the 6th session and at the end of the 12th session. Results: No difference was observed between the groups that underwent either high- or low-intensity programs. Both groups achieved gains in flexibility after four weeks of training. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that both high- and low-intensity stretching exercises are effective for ROM and there were no differences between them. Therefore, the intensity can be defined by the preference of the therapist or patient.