Journal of Aging and Physical Activity最新文献

Introduction: The aging global population demands strategies to mitigate inflammation and anabolic resistance impacting older adults' quality of life. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of multicomponent training on obese older women to enhance muscle health and functionality.

Objectives: To assess the effects of a 12-week multicomponent training program on physical and functional capacities, body composition, metabolic health, and whole body muscle quality.

Methods: Twenty-six older women (body mass index: >30 kg/m2) were randomized into an exercise (n = 13) or control group (n = 13). Exercise group participated in 12 weeks of supervised multicomponent training. Outcomes assessed pre- and postintervention including functional and physical capacities, body composition, waist circumference, lower limb muscle ultrasound, lipid profile, blood glucose, glucose tolerance, inflammatory cytokines, and type III procollagen peptide protein. Assessments were conducted blind to group allocation. Data were analyzed using R software.

Results: Exercise group showed significant reductions in body fat percentage (Hedges' g: -0.14) and enhanced functional performance (sit-to-stand test: Hedges' g: 1.21). Improvements in cardiometabolic health and inflammatory profiles were observed, reducing morbidity risk. Correlations between inflammatory markers, body composition, and functional outcomes suggested a nonlinear cytokine response.

Conclusion: Multicomponent training effectively improved body composition and functional capacity in obese older women, with potential benefits for inflammatory and metabolic health.

Significance: These results underscore the importance of integrating exercise with dietary strategies to optimize outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05552677.

Funding: Supported by FAPESP/2022/15078-4 and CnPq 303766/2022-0.

Introduction: Exercise is the most effective frailty mitigation intervention studied to date, yet frail older adults may face unique hurdles to exercise behavior change.

Objective: Our objective was to compare perceived opportunities and motivation for physical activity among subgroups with varying physical capability to inform frailty intervention development.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from n = 101 community-dwelling, older adults (n = 30 nonfrail, n = 59 prefrail, n = 12 frail; 93% African-American). Measures were organized by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior change framework. The capability factor included the frailty phenotype (nonfrail, prefrail, or frail). "Opportunity" factors included: barrier and resource identification, local program awareness, the Exercise Barriers Subscale, and exercise preferences. "Motivation" factors, included the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Exercise Subscale; perceived exercise need, benefits, and harms; the Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale; and personal health goals. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests identified between-group quantitative differences. Open-ended survey responses were evaluated qualitatively for themes.

Results: Frail adults had worse Exercise Barriers Subscale scores (p = .005); reported more barriers and fewer resources; were less aware of local exercise facilities; and had a narrower scope of exercise preferences. Frail adults also had worse Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Exercise Subscale scores (p = .004); were more likely to indicate they needed exercise; perceived more psychological exercise benefits than physical; but had worse Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale scores (p < .001). One-year health goal themes were similar among frailty groups, with the majority identifying functional goals. Conclusion and Significance/Implications: This study identified opportunity and motivation factors unique to frail adults that could inform behavior change discussions and interventions in frail adults.

Intergenerational physical activity programs hold promise for increasing (co-)physical activity in children and older adults. Many programs, however, lack effectiveness, potentially due to insufficient evidence-based development and limited addressing of both groups' needs, which could result in a lack of fit. Co-creation and tailored approaches could improve program fit and effectiveness. This study details the co-creation of an intergenerational physical activity program, "Ages Get Active." A co-creation approach was adopted with the Behavior Change Wheel as the guiding theoretical framework for the co-creation process. Six grandchildren (five girls; mean age 6.8) and four grandparents (three females; mean age: 63.5) participated in six co-creation sessions, based on the Behavior Change Wheel; eight academic experts and a stakeholder gave input on the results of the co-creation sessions; and 99 grandparents (68 females; mean age 67.0) provided input on barriers, motivators, and mode of delivery to ensure generalizability of the findings. Participants were recruited via schools and social media (Facebook) using flyers. Structured coding was applied to the data of the co-creation sessions to detect themes and patterns, which were categorized according to predefined criteria (e.g., barriers, motivators, content, program, etc.). Descriptive statistics (means, percentages, and frequencies) from the online survey, combined with input from experts, informed the further development of the intervention. The final intervention program comprised four key components: (1) an educational component; (2) eight group-based physical activity sessions; (3) home-based physical activities; and (4) promoting community-based events in the neighborhood. This approach can enhance (co-)physical activity in children and older adults, offering a model for future researchers.

Muscle strength and balance decrease with age, particularly in those over 80. Playing golf is associated with greater strength and balance in 65-79-year-olds, but it is not known if this occurs in the over 80s. Strength and balance of golfers aged over 80 years were assessed and compared with data obtained by the same research group on golfers and nongolfers aged 65-79 years. Over 80 golfers (n = 38) had similar normalized grip strength, single-leg balance, and leg power calculated from the 30-s sit-to-stand test, to the 65-79 nongolfers (n = 17). Composite Y balance test and anterior reach distances were significantly lower (right and left p < .001) for the over 80 golfers compared to the 65-79 nongolfers. The over 80 golfers had significantly lower reach distances for the Y balance test, single-leg stance times, lower limb power, and grip strength on the left side than the 65-79 golfers (n = 62). Playing golf may help slow the decline in grip strength, lower limb power, and static balance associated with aging but this needs to be determined in a prospective trial. Dynamic balance, however, does not appear to be maintained, as it was significantly lower in the golfers over 80 compared with the 65-79 golfers and nongolfers. Although golfers over 80 had similar strength and static balance scores compared to the 65-79 nongolfers, prospective intervention studies are needed to ascertain whether preservation of strength and balance were due to playing golf or other factors.

Background: The global rise in older adults underscores the importance of maintaining health particularly among women who experience disproportionately higher rates of health problems.

Objectives: This study compared the effects of tele-and on-site elastic band resistance exercise (EBRE) on the Short Physical Performance Battery, Short Form-8, and vitality in older women.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Forty-eight participants were assigned to one of three groups: (1) tele-EBRE, (2) on-site EBRE, and (3) a control group. Exercises were performed twice weekly for 12 weeks. Data on Short Physical Performance Battery, Short Form-8, and vitality were collected and analyzed using nonparametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) with SPSS (version 28.0).

Results: Both tele- and on-site EBRE significantly improved Short Physical Performance Battery, Short Form-8, and vitality in older women.

Conclusion: Telemedicine can facilitate the development and implementation of community-based programs such as remote exercise interventions to enhance the physical and psychological well-being of older women.

Background/objective: Social engagement may help preserve functional fitness (FF) throughout aging, but comparative studies are scarce. We compared FF in older women classified as socially active (SAC) versus exercise-trained (EXE) and insufficiently active (SED).

Methods: Participants in SAC engaged in social activities requiring physical effort 3+ days/week (n = 52; 69 ± 1 years); EXE performed physical training 3+ days/week for at least 3 months (n = 70; 68 ± 1 years); and SED comprised institutionalized women, sedentary for 7-8 hr/day (n = 43; 78 ± 2 years). FF tests included handgrip, sit-to-stand, timed-up-and-go, habitual and maximum walking speed, static and dynamic balance.

Results: SAC and EXE performed light-to-moderate physical activity +150 min/week, while SED spent 10-12 hr/day sitting or in bed. FF performance was 10%-50% lower in SED versus SAC and EXE (p < .05). Sit-to-stand failure rates were 14% in SED, 5% in SAC, and 3% in EXE. Timed-up-and-go test and maximum walking speed indicative of "high disability risk" were more predominant (p < .05) in SED (79% and 43%) versus SAC (42% and 4%), and EXE (21% and 0%). Only 5% of SED completed static balance versus 73% of SAC and 70% of EXE. Dynamic balance deficits were severe in 95% of SED versus 21% of SAC and 17% of EXE.

Conclusion: Older women with high social involvement had FF comparable to those engaged in exercise training, and both outperformed insufficiently active counterparts.

Implications: Social activities requiring a moderate level of physical effort seem to preserve the FF of older women, which should be considered within interventions to improve FF throughout aging.

Background/objectives: Previous studies in older adults have demonstrated inconsistent associations between muscle strength, body fatness, and falls. This study aims to analyze the combined and independent associations of muscle strength and body fatness on the incidence of falls, and fear of falling among older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 253 older adults (150 females) aged 65 years and over. Sociodemographic characteristics, muscle strength (handgrip test), body composition, the number of falls per year, and fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International) were ascertained.

Results: Linear regression models suggest muscle strength is inversely associated with falls (unstandardized β = -0.361; p < .001) and fear of falling (unstandardized β = -5.929; p < .001) after adjustments for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and body fatness. Additionally, analysis of covariance showed that participants categorized with high muscle strength, independently of body fatness status (low and high), had on average the lowest numbers of falls, F(3, 246) = 5.56; p = .001 and fear of falling, F(3, 246) = 6.75; p < .001, after adjustments.

Conclusion: Low muscle strength is associated with higher Falls Efficacy Scale-International score and fall episodes. Individuals with low levels of muscle strength, regardless of their body fatness status, exhibited the least favorable Falls Efficacy Scale-International scores and the highest average of falls. Significance/Implications: Our findings emphasize the importance of preserving muscle strength to mitigate the incidence of falls in older adults. Additionally, handgrip strength can be a simple and effective measure to identify low muscle strength and assess the risk of falls during routine clinical practice.

Background/objectives: Physical activity (PA) benefits the physical and mental well-being of people living with dementia; however, the experiences of people with young onset dementia (YOD) are poorly examined. The objective of this study was to understand the experiences of persons living with YOD related to PA and their barriers, facilitators, and preferences for PA.

Methods: People living with YOD were recruited across Canada (n = 8). Participants completed a demographic questionnaire followed by a semistructured interview. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and deductive content analysis.

Results: Three themes were identified: (a) Just keep moving: the benefits of PA describes participants' perceptions of PA as meaningful, enjoyable, and beneficial to their mental and physical health; (b) An encouraging social environment: a motivator for PA describes participants' preferences for group activities that foster social connection and support; and (c) Transition from own worst enemy to guardian angel describes participants' journeys from initial diagnosis to realizing that they can still be active and enjoy life with a diagnosis of YOD. Participants' barriers and facilitators to PA were identified and mapped corresponding to categories including self, social environment, and external environment.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PA supports well-being, empowerment, and autonomy of people living with YOD. Significance/Implications: Program leaders can use findings to address barriers experienced by people with YOD and educate others on the needs of people with YOD to support PA participation.

Background/objectives: Approximately 70% of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients prior to TAVR have low muscle mass, increased mortality risk, and reduced quality of life (QoL) with little improvement in muscle mass and QoL after TAVR. Resistance training (RT) with protein supplementation is effective for maintaining and increasing muscle mass but has not been studied in TAVR patients. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-week telehealth program of RT combined with protein supplementation (RT + PRO; n = 11) versus PRO alone (n = 11) on body composition, inflammation, strength, physical function, and QoL in TAVR patients (75.7 ± 6.5 years; body mass index: 31.3 ± 6.4 kg/m2).

Methods: RT + PRO completed a RT program of 12 exercises, 2×/week, 8-15 repetitions, for 1-3 sets and consumed 75 g (37.5 g 2×/day) of whey protein. PRO consumed the same protein but did not exercise.

Results: There were no reported injuries. Adherence to the exercise and protein supplementation was greater than 90%. RT + PRO had greater improvements in strength (30-s chair stands: RT + PRO pre: 11 ± 3 vs. post: 13 ± 3; PRO pre: 12 ± 2 vs. post: 12 ± 3 repetitions; p = .003; time to complete five sit-to-stands: RT + PRO pre: 12.3 ± 3.8 vs. post: 9.6 ± 2.7; PRO pre: 11.2 ± 2.4 vs. post: 10.9 ± 2.9 s; p = .011) and QoL (Sarcopenia QoL Questionnaire: RT + PRO pre: 63.7 ± 12.9 vs. post: 74.0 ± 14.6; PRO pre: 69.7 ± 13.6 vs. post: 69.2 ± 16.1 points; p = .002).

Conclusions/implications: The telehealth exercise program was safe and well attended. The RT + PRO protocol significantly improved some measures of muscular strength and QoL in TAVR patients. A telehealth exercise program may serve as an alternative to traditional in person cardiac rehabilitation programs.