title: Effect of cold indoor environment on physical performance of older women living in the community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the effects of cold on older persons' body and mind are not well documented, but with an increased number of older people with decreasing physical performance, these possible effects need to be understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the effect of cold indoor environment on physical performance of older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional experimental study with two test conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  movement laboratory in a climate chamber.
  
  
  METHODS
  eighty-eight community-dwelling, cognitively unimpaired older women (mean age 78 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  participants were exposed to moderately cold (15°C) and warm/normal (25°C) temperature in a climate chamber in random order with an interval of 1 week. The assessment protocol included leg extensor power (Nottingham Power Rig), sit-to-stand performance velocity (linear encoder), gait speed, walk-ratio (i.e. step length/cadence on an instrumented walk way), maximal quadriceps and hand grip strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  physical performance was lower in 15°C room temperature compared with 25°C room temperature for leg extensor power (P < 0.0001), sit-to-stand performance velocity (P < 0.0001), gait speed (P < 0.0001), walk-ratio (P = 0.016) and maximal quadriceps strength (P = 0.015), but not for hand grip strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in healthy older women a moderately cold indoor environment decreased important physical performance measures necessary for independent living.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Auerbachstr. 110, Stuttgart 70376, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.affiliation: Physical Work Capacity Team, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oksa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Health Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Unit, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Auerbachstr. 110, Stuttgart 70376, Germany Institute of Epidemiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Auerbachstr. 110, Stuttgart 70376, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zscheile
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Auerbachstr. 110, Stuttgart 70376, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: cold indoor environment; older people; older women; physical performance