Abstract
Introduction Decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat are important changes that occur with aging. Strength decline and worse resistance to fatigue can lead to a decreased functional autonomy of the elderly. Objective The present study aimed to verify the existence of a relationship between body composition, muscle strength, lower limbs fatigue and functional autonomy in active elderly women. Materials and methods The sample consisted of 29 elderly women with a mean age of 68.2 (± 7.3) years. Body composition was analyzed by total and segmental bioelectrical impedance. Muscle fatigue was assessed using electromyography, through the analysis of median frequency and root mean square during a 60-second sustained isometric knee extension contraction, at 50% of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Functional autonomy was assessed by using the Latin American Development Group for Maturity (GDLAM) protocol. Results There were significant correlations between height and strength (r = 0.49), age and lean body mass (r = -0.42), body fat percentage (BF%) and GDLAM tests (r = 0.39-0.41). The lean body mass was positively correlated with strength (r = 0.55), but not with resistance to fatigue. Conclusion The lean body mass of the analyzed sample was found to be associated with the performance on the maximum strength test, but not with the performance on the resistance to fatigue test. This shows that these two parameters (strength and fatigue) are independent of one another. Elderly women with higher BF% showed worse performance on the GDLAM tests. This evidences that individuals with high adiposity levels tend to have a more limited functional autonomy.
Highlights
Decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat are important changes that occur with aging
Given the decreased functional autonomy of the elderly person and the associated changes in body composition experienced over time, as well as the scant attention received in the literature by localized muscle fatigue in the elderly, this study aimed to verify the existence of a relationship among body composition, muscle strength, fatigue of the lower limbs and functional autonomy in active elderly women, through the analysis of bioimpedance, surface electromyography and functional tests
The results obtained in the tests of the Grupo de Desenvolvimento Latino-Americano para a Maturidade (GDLAM) protocol are shown in Table 2, as well as the General Index, which considers the performance on the four tests of the protocol in order to assess functional autonomy
Summary
Decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat are important changes that occur with aging. The increase in life expectancy causes great concern about the quality of life of the elderly in their last years of life, because significant changes in body composition are associated with aging, such as reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) and increased body fat, leading to a high prevalence rate of chronic diseases and functional disabilities. These changes in body composition are more quickly observed in less physically active elders [3, 4]
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