Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the benefits of physical activity are well-known, levels of physical inactivity are increasing in many countries. Physical activity, particularly for preventive care of the elderly, must be encouraged. The level of physical activity undertaken by people is influenced by season; however, little is known about seasonal fluctuations of physical activity and its relation to muscle strength/mass. Consequently, we clarified the association between physical activity levels and muscle strength/skeletal muscle mass during non-snowy and snowy seasons in northern Japan.MethodsParticipants were community-dwelling elderly people aged 65 years or older living in Tobetsu, northern Japan. A 30-s chair-stand test (CS-30) and body composition measurements using bioelectrical impedance analysis were conducted prior to physical activity measurement using a three-dimensional acceleration sensor in both non-snowy and snowy seasons. Daily steps for the non-snowy and snowy seasons were compared using Welch’s t test. The association between the CS-30/skeletal muscle index and daily steps in both seasons was estimated by fitting multiple linear regression models, with age and sex as covariates.ResultsAverage daily step counts were significantly lower during the snowy season, compared to the non-snowy season (P < .01). The CS-30 in the snowy season alone was significantly associated with daily step counts. Multiple linear regression analyses results revealed that, for the same muscle strength in both seasons, the daily step counts during the snowy season were fewer than those during the non-snowy season.ConclusionsThe muscle strength required to perform adequate physical activity depended on season. This study obtained basic knowledge to ensure health promotion for elderly people living in snowy-cold regions.
Highlights
The benefits of physical activity are well-known, levels of physical inactivity are increasing in many countries
No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding mean age, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and 30-s chair-stand test (CS-30)
Daily step counts for both seasons were lower than the average
Summary
The benefits of physical activity are well-known, levels of physical inactivity are increasing in many countries. The level of physical activity undertaken by people is influenced by season; little is known about seasonal fluctuations of physical activity and its relation to muscle strength/mass. We clarified the association between physical activity levels and muscle strength/skeletal muscle mass during non-snowy and snowy seasons in northern Japan. It is well-known that moderate physical activity promotes health. Outdoor physical activities are significantly influenced by season. People who live in snowy regions find it difficult to engage in such activities in the snowy and cold winter environment. People tend to sleep longer in winter [7, 8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
