Functional Capacity of Oldest Old Living in a Long-stay Institution in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

[Purpose] A significant increase in the number of oldest old has occurred worldwide. The aim of this study was to characterize the functional capacity of the oldest old residents in a long-stay institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [Subjects and Methods] All participants were evaluated according to the following metrics: anthropometry, body composition (bioelectrical impedance), handgrip strength, balance (Berg scale and stabilometry), ankle mobility (electrogoniometry), physical capacity (six-minute walk test), quality of life (WHOQOL-OLD), and dietary habits (questionnaire). [Results] Twenty elderly subjects with a mean age of 85.75 ± 5.22 years and a mean fat percentage of 39.02 ± 5.49% participated in the study. The group at risk of falls (n = 8) had a lower handgrip strength and walked a shorter distance over the course of six minutes compared with the group not at risk of falls. The obese group (n = 15) had higher values for stabilometric variables than the nonobese group. There was a positive and significant correlation between ankle joint mobility and physical capacity (r = 0.47). [Conclusion] High values for obesity and low values for handgrip strength and physical capacity were associated with worse body balance. Low values for ankle mobility were also associated with worse physical capacity in this population.

Composição corporal e expansão torácica em indivíduos que vivem e convivem com atrofia muscular espinhal tipo II e III / Body composition and chest expansion of type II and III Spinal muscular atrophy patients

Introdução: pacientes com atrofia muscular espinhal apresentam fraqueza muscular, problemas ortopédicos, complicações alimentares e declínio da função respiratória. Alterações na massa magra e na massa gorda também são esperadas. Objetivo: verificar a composição corporal e a expansão torácica de pacientes com atrofia muscular espinhal tipo II e III. Método: foram avaliados 14 indivíduos, sete no Grupo I (pacientes) com 9 (7 - 12)anos, 29,7 (23,5 - 60,0) kg; e sete no Grupo II (sem a doença) com 9 (9-12) anos, 31,0 (27,8 - 54,1) kg. A análise da composição corporal foi obtida pela bioimpedância elétrica monofrequencial. Os perímetros de tórax, quadril e abdômen foram medidos com uma fita métrica. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas no programa SPSS (p < 0,05). Resultados: os pacientes apresentaram maior impedância: 1416,9 (850,5 - 1559,1) vs788,0 (68 3, 6 - 853,8), P < 0,05; e percentual de gordura: 31,2 (23,9 - 46,6) vs 19,1 (14,9 - 27,0) por cento, P<0,05. A diferença entre a perimetria de tórax em inspiração forçada e em expiração forçada foi menor para os pacientes em comparação com o Grupo II: 3,0 (0,8 - 4,4) vs. 5,0 (3,9 - 6,5) cm, P < 0,05. Conclusão: pacientes com amiotrofia muscular espinhal apresentaram maior adiposidade e menor expansão torácica.

INTRODUCTION: spinal muscular atrophy patients present muscle weakness, orthopedic problems, nutritional complications and respiratory impairment. Lean mass and fat mass modifications are also expected in this population. OBJECTIVE: to verify the body composition and chest expansion of type II and III spinal muscular atrophy patients. METHODS: fourteen individuals were evaluated: seven patients in Group I of 9 (7-12) years of age, weighing 29.7 (23.5-60.0) kg; and seven children without the disease in Group II of 9 (9-12) years, weighing 31.0 (27.8-54.1) kg. Patients' monofrequency bioelectrical impedance was used for analyze body composition. Chest, hip and abdominal girths were measured by a flexible steel tape. The SPSS program was used to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: patients presented higher impedance: 1416.9 (850.5-1559.1) vs 788.0 (683.6-853.8), P < 0.05; and fat percentage: 31.2 (23.9-46.6) vs 19.1 (14.9-27.0)%, P < 0.05. The difference between forced inspiration and forced expiration thorax girth was smaller for patients when comparing to Group II: 3.0 (0.8-4.4) vs. 5.0 (3.9-6.5) cm, P<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: patients with spinal muscular atrophy presented higher adiposity and lower chest expansion.

Composição corporal e expansão torácica em indivíduos que vivem e convivem com atrofia muscular espinhal tipo II e III / Body composition and chest expansion of type II and III Spinal muscular atrophy patients

Introdução: pacientes com atrofia muscular espinhal apresentam fraqueza muscular, problemas ortopédicos, complicações alimentares e declínio da função respiratória. Alterações na massa magra e na massa gorda também são esperadas. Objetivo: verificar a composição corporal e a expansão torácica de pacientes com atrofia muscular espinhal tipo II e III. Método: foram avaliados 14 indivíduos, sete no Grupo I (pacientes) com 9 (7 - 12)anos, 29,7 (23,5 - 60,0) kg; e sete no Grupo II (sem a doença) com 9 (9-12) anos, 31,0 (27,8 - 54,1) kg. A análise da composição corporal foi obtida pela bioimpedância elétrica monofrequencial. Os perímetros de tórax, quadril e abdômen foram medidos com uma fita métrica. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas no programa SPSS (p < 0,05). Resultados: os pacientes apresentaram maior impedância: 1416,9 (850,5 - 1559,1) vs788,0 (68 3, 6 - 853,8), P < 0,05; e percentual de gordura: 31,2 (23,9 - 46,6) vs 19,1 (14,9 - 27,0) por cento, P<0,05. A diferença entre a perimetria de tórax em inspiração forçada e em expiração forçada foi menor para os pacientes em comparação com o Grupo II: 3,0 (0,8 - 4,4) vs. 5,0 (3,9 - 6,5) cm, P < 0,05. Conclusão: pacientes com amiotrofia muscular espinhal apresentaram maior adiposidade e menor expansão torácica.(AU)

INTRODUCTION: spinal muscular atrophy patients present muscle weakness, orthopedic problems, nutritional complications and respiratory impairment. Lean mass and fat mass modifications are also expected in this population. OBJECTIVE: to verify the body composition and chest expansion of type II and III spinal muscular atrophy patients. METHODS: fourteen individuals were evaluated: seven patients in Group I of 9 (7-12) years of age, weighing 29.7 (23.5-60.0) kg; and seven children without the disease in Group II of 9 (9-12) years, weighing 31.0 (27.8-54.1) kg. Patients' monofrequency bioelectrical impedance was used for analyze body composition. Chest, hip and abdominal girths were measured by a flexible steel tape. The SPSS program was used to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: patients presented higher impedance: 1416.9 (850.5-1559.1) vs 788.0 (683.6-853.8), P < 0.05; and fat percentage: 31.2 (23.9-46.6) vs 19.1 (14.9-27.0)%, P < 0.05. The difference between forced inspiration and forced expiration thorax girth was smaller for patients when comparing to Group II: 3.0 (0.8-4.4) vs. 5.0 (3.9-6.5) cm, P<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: patients with spinal muscular atrophy presented higher adiposity and lower chest expansion.(AU)