title: Clinical, functional and inflammatory factors associated with muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue in elderly community-dwelling women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fatigue is a common and nonspecific symptom associated with chronic health problems in the elderly. The modifications and adaptations of the aging process associated with complex and multidimensional nature of fatigue favors the interaction of multiple factors in the genesis of this phenomenon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of clinical, functional and inflammatory factors with muscle fatigue and self perceived fatigue in elderly women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participated in the study one hundred and thirty five community elderly women, all sedentary, with a mean age of 71.2±4.57. A structured questionnaire and functional testing were used to evaluate clinical and functional characteristics. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and sTNFR1) were measured by ELISA method. Muscle fatigue was measured by isokinetic dynamometer and self-perceived fatigue was measured by a visual analog scale. Statistical analysis was performed by multiple linear regression and Spearman correlation coefficient with statistical significance of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression models showed that the variables age, body mass index, physical activity level, functional capacity and peak torque were associated with muscle fatigue (R²=0.216, p<0.01). Self-perceived fatigue was associated with number of comorbidities, depression, physical activity level, functional capacity, peak torque and perceived health (R²=0.227, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a psychophysical interaction of the fatigue, by identifying the main factors associated with muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue in elderly women. These findings demonstrate the importance of evaluation and treatment of modifiable factors in both muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue, seeking a better physical and functional performance of elders.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. juscels@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Juscelio P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Daniele S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Fernada M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Lygia P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lustosa
authors.forename: João M D
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Leani S M
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics