Association of difficulties in daily physical activities and handgrip strength with cancer diagnoses in 65,980 European older adults.

BACKGROUND: People with cancer usually report physical deconditioning, which can limit daily activities. AIMS: Our aim was to analyze associations between daily physical activities and handgrip strength with cancer diagnoses among European older adults. METHODS: We used data from SHARE (a representative survey of individuals aged 50 years or older) wave 7, residing in 27 European countries and Israel. Participants self-reported difficulties in daily physical activities and cancer diagnoses, and handgrip strength was objectively assessed using a handheld dynamometer. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 65,980 participants (average age 67.6 years (SD = 9.4)) were analyzed. Having difficulties in any daily physical activity was significantly associated with higher odds of cancer diagnoses. Lower handgrip strength was significantly associated with cancer diagnoses among participants included in the first (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.27 [95%CI = 1.11-1.45]) and the second third (AOR = 1.15 [95%CI = 1.03-1.28]) when compared with participants from the last third in the final adjusted model. DISCUSSION: Having difficulties in daily physical activities as well as lower levels of handgrip strength is positively associated with cancer diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Adults with difficulties lifting or carrying weights over 5 kilos or having difficulties in two or more activities showed critical associations with cancer diagnosis.

Safety, Fear and Neuromuscular Responses after a Resisted Knee Extension Performed to Failure in Patients with Severe Haemophilia.

BACKGROUND: low-moderate intensity strength training to failure increases strength and muscle hypertrophy in healthy people. However, no study assessed the safety and neuromuscular response of training to failure in people with severe haemophilia (PWH). The purpose of the study was to analyse neuromuscular responses, fear of movement, and possible adverse effects in PWH, after knee extensions to failure. METHODS: twelve severe PWH in prophylactic treatment performed knee extensions until failure at an intensity of five on the Borg CR10 scale. Normalised values of amplitude (nRMS) and neuromuscular fatigue were determined using surface electromyography for the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis. After the exercise, participants were asked about their perceived change in fear of movement, and to report any possible adverse effects. RESULTS: Patients reported no adverse effects or increased fear. The nRMS was maximal for all the muscles before failure, the median frequency decreased, and wavelet index increased during the repetitions. The vastus lateralis demonstrated a higher maximum nRMS threshold and earlier fatigue, albeit with a lower and more progressive overall fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: severe PWH with adequate prophylactic treatment can perform knee extensions to task failure using a moderate intensity, without increasing fear of movement, or adverse effects.