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1.
NPJ Digit Med ; 4(1): 149, 2021 Oct 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34650191

ABSTRACT

Physical mobility is essential to health, and patients often rate it as a high-priority clinical outcome. Digital mobility outcomes (DMOs), such as real-world gait speed or step count, show promise as clinical measures in many medical conditions. However, current research is nascent and fragmented by discipline. This scoping review maps existing evidence on the clinical utility of DMOs, identifying commonalities across traditional disciplinary divides. In November 2019, 11 databases were searched for records investigating the validity and responsiveness of 34 DMOs in four diverse medical conditions (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip fracture). Searches yielded 19,672 unique records. After screening, 855 records representing 775 studies were included and charted in systematic maps. Studies frequently investigated gait speed (70.4% of studies), step length (30.7%), cadence (21.4%), and daily step count (20.7%). They studied differences between healthy and pathological gait (36.4%), associations between DMOs and clinical measures (48.8%) or outcomes (4.3%), and responsiveness to interventions (26.8%). Gait speed, step length, cadence, step time and step count exhibited consistent evidence of validity and responsiveness in multiple conditions, although the evidence was inconsistent or lacking for other DMOs. If DMOs are to be adopted as mainstream tools, further work is needed to establish their predictive validity, responsiveness, and ecological validity. Cross-disciplinary efforts to align methodology and validate DMOs may facilitate their adoption into clinical practice.

2.
Sensors (Basel) ; 20(17)2020 Sep 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32899143

ABSTRACT

Extensive test batteries are often needed to obtain a comprehensive picture of a person's functional status. Many test batteries are not suitable for active and healthy adults due to ceiling effects, or require a lot of space, time, and training. The Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CBMS) is considered a gold standard for this population, but the test is complex, as well as time- and resource intensive. There is a strong need for a faster, yet sensitive and robust test of physical function in seniors. We sought to investigate whether an instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG) could predict the CBMS score in 60 outpatients and healthy community-dwelling seniors, where features of the iTUG were predictive, and how the prediction of CBMS with the iTUG compared to standard clinical tests. A partial least squares regression analysis was used to identify latent components explaining variation in CBMS total score. The model with iTUG features was able to predict the CBMS total score with an accuracy of 85.2% (84.9-85.5%), while standard clinical tests predicted 82.5% (82.2-82.8%) of the score. These findings suggest that a fast and easily administered iTUG could be used to predict CBMS score, providing a valuable tool for research and clinical care.


Subject(s)
Exercise Test , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Physical Functional Performance , Physical Therapy Modalities , Postural Balance , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Least-Squares Analysis , Male
3.
BMJ Open ; 10(7): e038704, 2020 07 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32690539

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Advances in wearable sensor technology now enable frequent, objective monitoring of real-world walking. Walking-related digital mobility outcomes (DMOs), such as real-world walking speed, have the potential to be more sensitive to mobility changes than traditional clinical assessments. However, it is not yet clear which DMOs are most suitable for formal validation. In this review, we will explore the evidence on discriminant ability, construct validity, prognostic value and responsiveness of walking-related DMOs in four disease areas: Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and proximal femoral fracture. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews will guide study conduct. We will search seven databases (Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, IEEE Digital Library and Cochrane Library) and grey literature for studies which (1) measure differences in DMOs between healthy and pathological walking, (2) assess relationships between DMOs and traditional clinical measures, (3) assess the prognostic value of DMOs and (4) use DMOs as endpoints in interventional clinical trials. Two reviewers will screen each abstract and full-text manuscript according to predefined eligibility criteria. We will then chart extracted data, map the literature, perform a narrative synthesis and identify gaps. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As this review is limited to publicly available materials, it does not require ethical approval. This work is part of Mobilise-D, an Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking which aims to deliver, validate and obtain regulatory approval for DMOs. Results will be shared with the scientific community and general public in cooperation with the Mobilise-D communication team. REGISTRATION: Study materials and updates will be made available through the Center for Open Science's OSFRegistry (https://osf.io/k7395).


Subject(s)
Research Design , Walking , Humans
4.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr ; 90: 104134, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32575015

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding the association between motor capacity (MC) (what people can do in a standardized environment), mobility performance (MP) (what people actually do in real-life) and falls is important for early detection of and counteracting on functional decline, particularly in the rapidly growing population of young seniors. Therefore, this study aims to 1) explore the association between MC and MP, and between MC and falls, and 2) investigate whether challenging MC measures are better associated with MP and falls than basic MC measures. METHODS: Basic (habitual gait speed, Timed Up-and-Go) and challenging (fast gait speed, Community Balance & Mobility Scale) MC measures were performed in 169 young seniors (61-70 years). MP was assessed using one-week sensor-monitoring including time being sedentary, light active, and at least moderately active. Falls in the previous six months were reported. Associations and discriminative ability were calculated using correlation, regression and receiver operating curve analysis. RESULTS: Mean age was 66.4 (SD 2.4) years (50.6 % women). Small to moderate associations (r = 0.06-0.31; p < .001-.461) were found between MC, MP and falls. Challenging MC measures showed closer associations with MP and falls (r = 0.10-0.31; p < .001-.461) compared to basic (r = 0.06-0.22; p = .012-.181), remained significant in three out of four regression models explaining 2.5-8.6 % of the variance, and showed highest discriminative ability (area under the curve = 0.59-0.70) in all analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Challenging MC measures are closer associated with mobility performance and falls as compared to basic MC measures in young seniors. This indicates the importance of applying challenging motor capacity assessments in young seniors. On the same note, small to moderate associations imply a need for an assessment of both MC and MP in order to capture the best possible MC and the actual daily-life MP in young seniors.


Subject(s)
Accidental Falls , Postural Balance , Aged , Female , Gait , Humans , Male , Physical Therapy Modalities , Walking Speed
5.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth ; 8(4): e16507, 2020 04 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32338616

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Objective measures of physical function in older adults are widely used to predict health outcomes such as disability, institutionalization, and mortality. App-based clinical tests allow users to assess their own physical function and have objective tracking of changes over time by use of their smartphones. Such tests can potentially guide interventions remotely and provide more detailed prognostic information about the participant's physical performance for the users, therapists, and other health care personnel. We developed 3 smartphone apps with instrumented versions of the Timed Up and Go (Self-TUG), tandem stance (Self-Tandem), and Five Times Sit-to-Stand (Self-STS) tests. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the usability of 3 smartphone app-based self-tests of physical function using an iterative design. METHODS: The apps were tested in 3 iterations: the first (n=189) and second (n=134) in a lab setting and the third (n=20) in a separate home-based study. Participants were healthy adults between 60 and 80 years of age. Assessors observed while participants self-administered the tests without any guidance. Errors were recorded, and usability problems were defined. Problems were addressed in each subsequent iteration. Perceived usability in the home-based setting was assessed by use of the System Usability Scale, the User Experience Questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: In the first iteration, 7 usability problems were identified; 42 (42/189, 22.0%) and 127 (127/189, 67.2%) participants were able to correctly perform the Self-TUG and Self-Tandem, respectively. In the second iteration, errors caused by the problems identified in the first iteration were drastically reduced, and 108 (108/134, 83.1%) and 106 (106/134, 79.1%) of the participants correctly performed the Self-TUG and Self-Tandem, respectively. The first version of the Self-STS was also tested in this iteration, and 40 (40/134, 30.1%) of the participants performed it correctly. For the third usability test, the 7 usability problems initially identified were further improved. Testing the apps in a home setting gave rise to some new usability problems, and for Self-TUG and Self-STS, the rates of correctly performed trials were slightly reduced from the second version, while for Self-Tandem, the rate increased. The mean System Usability Scale score was 77.63 points (SD 16.1 points), and 80-95% of the participants reported the highest or second highest positive rating on all items in the User Experience Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the apps have the potential to be used to self-test physical function in seniors in a nonsupervised home-based setting. The participants reported a high degree of ease of use. Evaluating the usability in a home setting allowed us to identify new usability problems that could affect the validity of the tests. These usability problems are not easily found in the lab setting, indicating that, if possible, app usability should be evaluated in both settings. Before being made available to end users, the apps require further improvements and validation.


Subject(s)
Disabled Persons , Mobile Applications , Telemedicine , Aged , Humans , Smartphone , Surveys and Questionnaires
6.
Phys Ther ; 100(1): 180-191, 2020 01 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31581286

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CBM) has been shown to be reliable and valid for detecting subtle balance and mobility deficits in people who are 61 to 70 years of age. However, item redundancy and assessment time call for a shortened version. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to create and validate a shortened version of the CBM (s-CBM) without detectable loss of psychometric properties. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Exploratory factor analysis with data from 189 young seniors (aged 61-70 years; mean [SD] age = 66.3 [2.5] years) was used to create the s-CBM. Sixty-one young seniors (aged 61-70 years; mean [SD] age = 66.5 [2.6] years) were recruited to assess construct validity (Pearson correlation coefficient) by comparing the CBM versions with Fullerton Advance Balance Scale, Timed Up-and-Go, habitual and fast gait speed, 8 Level Balance Scale, 3-m tandem walk, and 30-second chair stand test. Internal consistency (Cronbach α), ceiling effects, and discriminant validity (area under the curve [AUC]) between fallers and nonfallers, and self-reported high and low function (Late-Life Function and Disability Index) and balance confidence (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale), respectively, were calculated. RESULTS: The s-CBM, consisting of 4 items, correlated excellently with the CBM (r = 0.97). Correlations between s-CBM and other assessments (r = 0.07-0.72), and CBM and other assessments (r = 0.06-0.80) were statistically comparable in 90% of the correlations. Cronbach α was .84 for the s-CBM, and .87 for the CBM. No CBM-version showed ceiling effects. Discriminative ability of the s-CBM was statistically comparable with the CBM (AUC = 0.66-0.75 vs AUC = 0.65-0.79). LIMITATIONS: Longitudinal studies with larger samples should confirm the results and assess the responsiveness for detecting changes over time. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the s-CBM were similar to those of the CBM. The s-CBM can be recommended as a valid and quick balance and mobility assessment in young seniors.


Subject(s)
Geriatric Assessment/methods , Mobility Limitation , Postural Balance , Sensation Disorders/diagnosis , Accidental Falls , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Discriminant Analysis , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Independent Living , Male , Middle Aged , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Self Report , Walking Speed
7.
Gerontology ; 65(6): 599-609, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31216533

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Time commitments, limited access, or unwillingness to join a group are some of the many reasons for low adherence to structured exercise in older adults. A promising alternative approach is integrating exercise into daily routines. OBJECTIVE: This study tested whether an adapted Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (aLiFE) programme is suitable for adults aged 60-70 years. METHODS: The aLiFE approach was evaluated by interviews and focus-groups with participants and trainers following 4-week pre-post intervention pilot study. For data analyses, Framework Approach was used. Coding was managed using NVivo, and subsequently organised into overarching themes. RESULTS: Twenty women and 11 men (mean age 66.4 ± 2.7 years) and 6 trainers (30.0 ± 6.2 years; 5 women) participated. Both participants and trainers were positive about the programme. Participants understood the concept of integrating balance, strength and physical activities into daily lives and valued the individual tailoring in the programme, the preventive approach, and the support of trainers. Trainers valued the flexible approach and peer support between trainers. However, both participants and trainers disliked the extensive study paperwork and reported some challenges to integrate activities into daily routines during the compressed intervention: busy and varied lifestyles, embarrassment performing activities in public, pain, difficulty of specific activities. Participants noted habitualisation of some activities within the short intervention period, even without continuous self-monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: aLiFE is a highly acceptable intervention amongst adults aged 60-70 years. Trainers are especially relevant as motivators and support providers. The effectiveness of the aLiFE approach should be tested in a randomised controlled trial.


Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Exercise , Life Style , Aged , Female , Health Behavior , Humans , Male , Muscle Strength , Patient Compliance , Pilot Projects , Postural Balance , Program Evaluation
8.
Gerontology ; 65(4): 362-374, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31112941

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program is an intervention integrating balance and strength activities into daily life, effective at reducing falls in at-risk people ≥70 years. There is potential for LiFE to be adapted to young seniors in order to prevent age-related functional decline. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to (1) develop an intervention by adapting Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (aLiFE) to be more challenging and suitable for preventing functional decline in young seniors in their 60s and (2) perform an initial feasibility evaluation of the program. Pre-post changes in balance, mobility, and physical activity (PA) were also explored. METHODS: Based on a conceptual framework, a multidisciplinary expert group developed an initial aLiFE version, including activities for improving strength, neuromotor performances, and PA. Proof-of-concept was evaluated in a 4-week pre-post intervention study measuring (1) feasibility including adherence, frequency of practice, adverse events, acceptability (i.e., perceived helpfulness, adaptability, level of difficulty of single activities), and safety, and (2) changes in balance/mobility (Community Balance and Mobility Scale) and PA (1 week activity monitoring). The program was refined based on the study results. RESULTS: To test the initial aLiFE version, 31 young seniors were enrolled and 30 completed the study (mean age 66.4 ± 2.7 years, 60% women). Of a maximum possible 16 activities, participants implemented on average 12.1 ± 1.8 activities during the intervention, corresponding to mean adherence of 76%. Implemented activities were practiced 3.6-6.1 days/week and 1.8-7.8 times/day, depending on the activity type. One noninjurious fall occurred during practice, although the participant continued the intervention. The majority found the activities helpful, adaptable to individual lifestyle, appropriately difficult, and safe. CMBS score increased with medium effect size (d = 0.72, p = 0.001). Increase in daily walking time (d = 0.36) and decrease in sedentary time (d = -0.10) were nonsignificant. Refinements included further increasing the task challenge of some strength activities and defining the most preferred activities in the trainer's manual to facilitate uptake of the program. CONCLUSION: aLiFE has the potential to engage young seniors in regular lifestyle-integrated activities. Effectiveness needs to be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.


Subject(s)
Aging , Exercise , Life Style , Physical Functional Performance , Postural Balance , Accidental Falls/prevention & control , Aged , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Comfort , Resistance Training
9.
BMJ Open ; 9(3): e023526, 2019 03 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30898801

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The European population is rapidly ageing. In order to handle substantial future challenges in the healthcare system, we need to shift focus from treatment towards health promotion. The PreventIT project has adapted the Lifestyle-integrated Exercise (LiFE) programme and developed an intervention for healthy young older adults at risk of accelerated functional decline. The intervention targets balance, muscle strength and physical activity, and is delivered either via a smartphone application (enhanced LiFE, eLiFE) or by use of paper manuals (adapted LiFE, aLiFE). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The PreventIT study is a multicentre, three-armed feasibility randomised controlled trial, comparing eLiFE and aLiFE against a control group that receives international guidelines of physical activity. It is performed in three European cities in Norway, Germany, and The Netherlands. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and usability of the interventions, and to assess changes in daily life function as measured by the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument scale and a physical behaviour complexity metric. Participants are assessed at baseline, after the 6 months intervention period and at 1 year after randomisation. Men and women between 61 and 70 years of age are randomly drawn from regional registries and respondents screened for risk of functional decline to recruit and randomise 180 participants (60 participants per study arm). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was received at all three trial sites. Baseline results are intended to be published by late 2018, with final study findings expected in early 2019. Subgroup and further in-depth analyses will subsequently be published. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03065088; Pre-results.


Subject(s)
Exercise , Health Behavior , Health Promotion/methods , Life Style , Aged , Feasibility Studies , Germany , Humans , Middle Aged , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Netherlands , Norway , Quality of Life , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Risk Reduction Behavior
10.
Sensors (Basel) ; 19(3)2019 Jan 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30678268

ABSTRACT

Assessment of physical performance by standard clinical tests such as the 30-sec Chair Stand (30CST) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) may allow early detection of functional decline, even in high-functioning populations, and facilitate preventive interventions. Inertial sensors are emerging to obtain instrumented measures that can provide subtle details regarding the quality of the movement while performing such tests. We compared standard clinical with instrumented measures of physical performance in their ability to distinguish between high and very high functional status, stratified by the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI). We assessed 160 participants from the PreventIT study (66.3 ± 2.4 years, 87 females, median LLFDI 72.31, range: 44.33⁻100) performing the 30CST and TUG while a smartphone was attached to their lower back. The number of 30CST repetitions and the stopwatch-based TUG duration were recorded. Instrumented features were computed from the smartphone embedded inertial sensors. Four logistic regression models were fitted and the Areas Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUC) were calculated and compared using the DeLong test. Standard clinical and instrumented measures of 30CST both showed equal moderate discriminative ability of 0.68 (95%CI 0.60⁻0.76), p = 0.97. Similarly, for TUG: AUC was 0.68 (95%CI 0.60⁻0.77) and 0.65 (95%CI 0.56⁻0.73), respectively, p = 0.26. In conclusion, both clinical and instrumented measures, recorded through a smartphone, can discriminate early functional decline in healthy adults aged 61⁻70 years.


Subject(s)
Geriatric Assessment/methods , Physical Functional Performance , Wearable Electronic Devices/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Area Under Curve , Female , Geriatric Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Logistic Models , Middle Aged , Movement/physiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Smartphone
11.
BMC Geriatr ; 19(1): 9, 2019 01 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30626340

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many balance and strength tests exist that have been designed for older seniors, often aged ≥70 years. To guide strategies for preventing functional decline, valid and reliable tests are needed to detect early signs of functional decline in young seniors. Currently, little is known about which tests are being used in young seniors and their methodological quality. This two-step review aims to 1) identify commonly used tests of balance and strength, and 2) evaluate their measurement properties in young seniors. METHODS: First, a systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE to identify primary studies that employed performance-based tests of balance and muscle strength, and which aspects of balance and strength these tests assess in young seniors aged 60-70. Subsequently, for tests used in ≥3 studies, a second search was performed to identify method studies evaluating their measurement properties. The quality of included method studies was evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. RESULTS: Of 3454 articles identified, 295 met the inclusion criteria. For the first objective, 69 balance and 51 muscle strength tests were identified, with variations in administration mode and outcome reporting. Twenty-six balance tests and 15 muscle strength tests were used in ≥3 studies, with proactive balance tests and functional muscle power tests used most often. For the second objective, the search revealed 1880 method studies, of which nine studies (using 5 balance tests and 1 strength test) were included for quality assessment. The Timed Up and Go test was evaluated the most (4 studies), while the Community Balance and Mobility (CBM) scale was the second most assessed test (3 studies). For strength, one study assessed the reliability of the Five times sit-to-stand. CONCLUSION: Commonly used balance and muscle strength tests in young seniors vary greatly with regards to administration mode and outcome reporting. Few studies have evaluated measurement properties of these tests when used in young seniors. There is a need for standardisation of existing tests to improve their informative value and comparability. For measuring balance, the CBM is a new and promising tool to detect even small balance deficits in balance in young seniors.


Subject(s)
Geriatric Assessment/methods , Muscle Strength/physiology , Postural Balance/physiology , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Time and Motion Studies
12.
BMC Geriatr ; 18(1): 156, 2018 07 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29970010

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With the growing number of young-older adults (baby-boomers), there is an increasing demand for assessment tools specific for this population, which are able to detect subtle balance and mobility deficits. Various balance and mobility tests already exist, but suffer from ceiling effects in higher functioning older adults. A reliable and valid challenging balance and mobility test is critical to determine a young-older adult's balance and mobility performance and to timely initiate preventive interventions. The aim was to evaluate the concurrent validity, inter- and intrarater reliability, internal consistency, and ceiling effects of a challenging balance and mobility scale, the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CBM), in young-older adults aged 60 to 70 years. METHODS: Fifty-one participants aged 66.4 ± 2.7 years (range, 60-70 years) were assessed with the CBM. The Fullerton Advanced Balance scale (FAB), 3-Meter Tandem Walk (3MTW), 8-level balance scale, Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), and 7-m habitual gait speed were used to estimate concurrent validity, examined by Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). Inter- and intrarater reliability were calculated as Intra-class-correlations (ICC), and internal consistency by Cronbach alpha and item-total correlations (ρ). Ceiling effects were determined by obtaining the percentage of participants reaching the highest possible score. RESULTS: The CBM significantly correlated with the FAB (ρ = 0.75; p < .001), 3MTW errors (ρ = - 0.61; p < .001), 3MTW time (ρ = - 0.35; p = .05), the 8-level balance scale (ρ = 0.35; p < .05), the TUG (ρ = - 0.42; p < .01), and 7-m habitual gait speed (ρ = 0.46, p < .001). Inter- (ICC2,k = 0.97), intrarater reliability (ICC3,k = 1.00) were excellent, and internal consistency (α = 0.88; ρ = 0.28-0.81) was good to satisfactory. The CBM did not show ceiling effects in contrast to other scales. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent validity of the CBM was good when compared to the FAB and moderate to good when compared to other measures of balance and mobility. Based on this study, the CBM can be recommended to measure balance and mobility performance in the specific population of young-older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial number: ISRCTN37750605 . (Registered on 21/04/2016).


Subject(s)
Geriatric Assessment/methods , Physical Therapy Modalities , Postural Balance/physiology , Walking Speed/physiology , Walking/physiology , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Data Collection , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results
13.
J Hum Kinet ; 61: 5-13, 2018 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29599855

ABSTRACT

Elastic resistance bands require little space, are light and portable, but their efficacy has not yet been established for several resistance exercises. The main objective of this study was to compare the muscle activation levels induced by elastic resistance bands versus conventional resistance training equipment (dumbbells) in the upper-body resistance exercises flyes and reverse flyes. The level of muscle activation was measured with surface electromyography in 29 men and women in a cross-over design where resistance loadings with elastic resistance bands and dumbbells were matched using 10-repetition maximum loadings. Elastic resistance bands induced slightly lower muscle activity in the muscles most people aim to activate during flyes and reverse flies, namely pectoralis major and deltoideus posterior, respectively. However, elastic resistance bands increased the muscle activation level substantially in perceived ancillary muscles, that is deltoideus anterior in flyes, and deltoideus medius and trapezius descendens in reverse flyes, possibly due to elastic bands being a more unstable resistance modality. Overall, the results show that elastic resistance bands can be considered a feasible alternative to dumbbells in flyes and reverse flyes.

14.
Eur J Sport Sci ; 17(8): 973-982, 2017 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28628370

ABSTRACT

Previous studies indicate that elastic resistance bands (ERB) can be a viable option to conventional resistance-training equipment (CRE) during single-joint resistance exercises, but their efficacy has not been established for several commonly used multiple-joint resistance exercises. Thus, we compared muscular activation levels in four popular multiple-joint exercises performed with ERB (TheraBand®) vs. CRE (Olympic barbell or cable pulley machines). In a cross-over design, men and women (n = 29) performed squats, stiff-legged deadlifts, unilateral rows and lateral pulldown using both modalities. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression analyses of main and interaction effects, and subsequent post hoc analyses were used to assess differences between the two resistance-training modalities. CRE induced higher levels of muscle activation in the prime movers during all exercises (p < .001 for all comparisons), compared to muscle activation levels induced by ERB. The magnitude of the differences was marginal in lateral pulldown and unilateral rows and for the erector spinae during stiff-legged deadlifts. In squats the quadriceps femoris activations were substantially lower for ERB. The differences between ERB and CRE were mostly observed during the parts of the contractions where the bands were relatively slack, whilst the differences were largely eliminated when the bands became elongated in the end ranges of the movements. We conclude that ERB can be a feasible training modality for lateral pulldowns, unilateral rows and to some extent stiff-legged deadlifts, but not for the squat exercise.


Subject(s)
Exercise/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Resistance Training/instrumentation , Adult , Cross-Over Studies , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult
15.
Sensors (Basel) ; 17(3)2017 Mar 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28287449

ABSTRACT

Physical activity monitoring algorithms are often developed using conditions that do not represent real-life activities, not developed using the target population, or not labelled to a high enough resolution to capture the true detail of human movement. We have designed a semi-structured supervised laboratory-based activity protocol and an unsupervised free-living activity protocol and recorded 20 older adults performing both protocols while wearing up to 12 body-worn sensors. Subjects' movements were recorded using synchronised cameras (≥25 fps), both deployed in a laboratory environment to capture the in-lab portion of the protocol and a body-worn camera for out-of-lab activities. Video labelling of the subjects' movements was performed by five raters using 11 different category labels. The overall level of agreement was high (percentage of agreement >90.05%, and Cohen's Kappa, corrected kappa, Krippendorff's alpha and Fleiss' kappa >0.86). A total of 43.92 h of activities were recorded, including 9.52 h of in-lab and 34.41 h of out-of-lab activities. A total of 88.37% and 152.01% of planned transitions were recorded during the in-lab and out-of-lab scenarios, respectively. This study has produced the most detailed dataset to date of inertial sensor data, synchronised with high frame-rate (≥25 fps) video labelled data recorded in a free-living environment from older adults living independently. This dataset is suitable for validation of existing activity classification systems and development of new activity classification algorithms.


Subject(s)
Exercise , Aged , Algorithms , Humans , Movement , Technology
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