Abstract
Physical activity (PA) is an effective strategy for managing sarcopenia in the elderly, but few studies have addressed PA levels regarding age-related changes. To ascertain the effects of elderly women's PA levels on sarcopenia, physical performance, handgrip strength and perception of the risk of falling, and their relationship with energy expenditure. Observational cross-sectional study conducted in the southern region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Forty-seven elderly women were evaluated and divided into three groups: low PA (n = 13); moderate PA (n = 16); and high PA (n = 18). Their PA levels were investigated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); sarcopenia index, through dual-energy radiological absorptiometry; physical performance through the Timed Up & Go test; handgrip strength, using a digital dynamometer; and perception of the risk of falling, through the Fall Risk Awareness Questionnaire. High PA level indicated higher skeletal muscle mass index, physical performance and IPAQ score, compared with low and moderate PA levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher IPAQ energy expenditure at high and moderate PA levels was a good predictor of higher physical performance and increased perception of the risk of falling. Elderly women classified as having high PA level showed improvements in sarcopenia, handgrip strength, physical performance and perception of the risk of falling. The IPAQ energy expenditure of the elderly women with high and moderate PA levels was a good predictor of physical performance and improved perception of the risk of falling.
Highlights
A sedentary lifestyle is the primary risk factor for muscle weakness.[1]
Fifty elderly women who were in care at the Beneficent Society for Healthcare for the Elderly of the Southern Region, São Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated, but three of them were excluded from the study because they did not attend the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination
In the multiple linear regression analysis, it was observed that only physical performance and the perception of the risk of falling showed strong relationships with higher International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) score (MET/min/ week), corresponding to moderate or high Physical activity (PA) levels (Table 3)
Summary
A sedentary lifestyle is the primary risk factor for muscle weakness.[1]. Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and function, affects quality of life and increases the risk of physical limitations and disability among older adults.[1,2] Currently, epidemiological statistics show that sarcopenia affects about 50% of elderly people, depending on the country, ethnicity of the patient, diagnostic criteria and healthcare setting.[1,2,3,4] Overall, the prevalence among men is about 25% and among women, 20%.2,5 loss of muscle mass appears to be an inevitable part of the aging process, especially with decreasing physical performance with aging.[5,6,7,8,9] Scientific evidence has shown that sarcopenia begins to develop between the ages of 30 and 40 years. Loss of muscle mass appears to be an inevitable part of the aging process, especially with decreasing physical performance with aging.[5,6,7,8,9] Scientific evidence has shown that sarcopenia begins to develop between the ages of 30 and 40 years. METHODS: Forty-seven elderly women were evaluated and divided into three groups: low PA (n = 13); moderate PA (n = 16); and high PA (n = 18) Their PA levels were investigated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); sarcopenia index, through dual-energy radiological absorptiometry; physical performance through the Timed Up & Go test; handgrip strength, using a digital dynamometer; and perception of the risk of falling, through the Fall Risk Awareness Questionnaire. The IPAQ energy expenditure of the elderly women with high and moderate PA levels was a good predictor of physical performance and improved perception of the risk of falling
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More From: Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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