Agreement and Associations between Countermovement Jump, 5-Time Sit-To-Stand, Lower-Limb Muscle Power Equations, and Physical Performance Tests in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: The present study examined the agreement and associations of the 5-time sit-to-stand (5STS) test, the countermovement jump test, and lower-limb muscle power equations with a set of physical performance tests in older adults. Methods: Five hundred and thirty-four community-dwelling older adults were recruited for the study. Lower-limb muscle power measures included 5STS, the countermovement jump test, and muscle power equations. Isometric handgrip strength, timed "up-and-go!", the 6 min walking test, one-leg stand, and walking speed at usual and fast paces were used to assess physical performance. Pearson's correlations and Bland-Altman analyses were conducted to examine associations among muscle power measures. Linear and multiple regressions were run to explore associations of 5STS, the countermovement jump test, and muscle power equations with physical performance tests. Results: Weak correlations were observed among lower-limb muscle power measures. Bland-Altman results indicated important differences among the countermovement jump test, 5STS, and muscle power equations. Results of multiple linear regressions indicated that 5STS, the countermovement jump test, and muscle power equations were significantly associated with measures of muscle strength and mobility. However, only 5STS was significantly associated with balance. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the performance on the countermovement jump test and 5STS is weakly correlated with lower-limb muscle power equations. The only exception was the correlation found between the countermovement jump test and relative muscle power, highlighting the importance of accounting for body mass in muscle power evaluations. Muscle power measures were similarly associated with performance on handgrip strength, timed "up-and-go!", and the 6 min walking test. The exclusive association of 5STS with balance suggests that a reassessment of 5STS muscle power equations may be warranted.

Muscle power-related parameters in middle-aged and older Brazilian women: a cross-sectional study.

The present study was conducted to provide normative values for lower-limb muscle power estimated through equations based on the 5 times sit-to-stand (5STS) test in Brazilian older women. In addition, we investigated the association between muscle power parameters and age. The study followed a cross-sectional design. Participants were community-dwelling women. Candidates were considered eligible if they were 18 years or older, lived independently, and possessed sufficient physical and cognitive abilities to perform all measurements required by the protocol. The 5STS test was performed as fast as possible using a standard protocol. Absolute, relative, and allometric muscle power measures were estimated using 5STS-based equations. Two thousand four-hundred seventy-one women participated in the present study. Results indicated that muscle power-related parameters decreased linearly with age. Women 60-69 years showed a marginal reduction in absolute (- 5.2%), relative (- 7.9%), and allometric (- 4.0%) muscle power. A larger reduction was observed in those 70-79 years and reached » of loss in participants ≥ 80, in comparison to middle-aged participants. Pearson's correlation and linear regression analyses indicated that power-related parameters were negatively associated with age. In conclusion, data of the present study provide normative values for lower-limb muscle power parameters according to 5STS-based equations. We observed that muscle power-related parameters declined with age, such that participants 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years displayed lower absolute and relative muscle power compared middle-aged women. A later decline was observed in allometric muscle power. Relative muscle power declined to a greater extent than other parameters, suggesting a possible window of opportunity for interventions.

Frailty is not associated with hypertension, blood pressure or antihypertensive medication in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional comparison across 3 frailty instruments.

AIM: The present study investigated whether hypertension, blood pressure, and antihypertensive therapy were associated with frailty status in community-dwelling older adults. In addition, we tested whether such associations were consistent across different frailty instruments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two-hundred older adults were enrolled in the study. Participant frailty status was determined according to a modified physical frailty phenotype (mFP), the FRAIL scale, and the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture (SOF) index. Blood pressure was assessed three times, in three different days, and mean values were used in the final analysis. Information pertaining to disease conditions and antihypertensive therapy were collected by two researchers through self-report and careful review of medical charts. RESULTS: No significant differences in hemodynamic parameters, hypertension diagnosis, and antihypertensive therapy were observed across frailty statuses, regardless of the frailty assessment tool used. CONCLUSION: Findings of the present study indicate that hypertension, blood pressure levels and antihypertensive medication were not cross-sectionally associated with frailty status in cognitively preserved community-dwelling older adults with low prevalence of comorbidities, regardless of the tool used for frailty identification.

Dynamic Resistance Training Improves Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stroke survivors are at substantial risk of recurrent cerebrovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Exercise training offers nonpharmacological treatment for these subjects; however, the execution of the traditional exercise protocols and adherence is constantly pointed out as obstacles. Based on these premises, the present study investigated the impact of an 8-week dynamic resistance training protocol with elastic bands on functional, hemodynamic, and cardiac autonomic modulation, oxidative stress markers, and plasma nitrite concentration in stroke survivors. Twenty-two patients with stroke were randomized into control group (CG, n = 11) or training group (TG, n = 11). Cardiac autonomic modulation, oxidative stress markers, plasma nitrite concentration, physical function and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated before and after 8 weeks. Results indicated that functional parameters (standing up from the sitting position (P = 0.011) and timed up and go (P = 0.042)) were significantly improved in TG. Although not statistically different, both systolic blood pressure (Δ = -10.41 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (Δ = -8.16 mmHg) were reduced in TG when compared to CG. Additionally, cardiac autonomic modulation (sympathovagal balance-LF/HF ratio) and superoxide dismutase were improved, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl levels were reduced in TG when compared to the CG subjects. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that dynamic resistance training with elastic bands may improve physical function, hemodynamic parameters, autonomic modulation, and oxidative stress markers in stroke survivors. These positive changes would be associated with a reduced risk of a recurrent stroke or cardiac event in these subjects.

Low blood pressure is sustained during subsequent activities of daily living performed after power training in older women.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of a prior session of power training on blood pressure values during tasks that mimic the activities of daily living in hypertensive and normotensive older women. A randomized crossover experimental design was used for this study. Eleven older women (age, 66.1±1.2 years; body mass index, 26.7±4.8 kg/m2; systolic blood pressure, 133.9±23.4 mmHg) were recruited to participate. Volunteers were randomly underwent to a single session of physical exercise equalized by training volume, characterized by 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions in 8 different exercises. However, Power training session was performed at a higher intensity (moderate) than Sham session (rest/very, very easy ). Immediately after the end of the exercise session, subjects were assigned to perform five tasks that mimic the activities of daily living. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded before and immediately after the session of physical exercise, as well as in the end of each of the tasks. Results demonstrated significant elevations in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure values during the performance of the tasks after the Sham session. However, values were not altered in the power training session. Data of the present study indicate that an acute session of power training can maintain blood pressure values lower during the subsequent performance of tasks that mimic activities of daily living in older women.

Effects of a short-term detraining period on muscle functionality and cognition of strength-trained older women: a preliminary report.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of a 1-month detraining composed by Christmas and New Year's Day in the functional and cognitive parameters of 12 older women who had previously participated in 22-week moderate intensity strength training program (ST; n=6) or remained performing their regular habits of life during all study period, without engaging in physical exercise programs (CG; n=6). Transfer capacity (i.e., Timed Up and Go [TUG]) and executive function (i.e., TUG with a cognitive task) were increased in the ST group after the intervention. However, the 1-month detraining period was enough to totally reverse the gains in both parameters. In conclusion, data of the present study indicate that 1 month of detraining was enough to totally reverse the beneficial effects of a 6-month ST program on physical mobility and executive function of older women.