Handgrip strength, quadriceps muscle power, and optimal shortening velocity roles in maintaining functional abilities in older adults living in a long-term care home: a 1-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relative role of handgrip strength (HGS), quadriceps muscle power (Pmax), and optimal shortening velocity (υopt) in maintaining functional abilities (FAs) in older adults living in a long-term care home over a 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Forty-one inactive older institutionalized adults aged 69.8±9.0 years participated in this study. HGS, Pmax, υopt, cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination, depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale, nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and physical activity (PA) using the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire were assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. FAs were assessed with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL, and Timed Up & Go test.


RESULTS
Both at baseline and at follow-up, FAs were related to age, HGS, Pmax/kg, υopt, MNA, and PA. These associations were generally similar in both sexes. As revealed in multiple regression analysis, υopt was the strongest predictor of FA, followed by Pmax/kg, PA, and MNA. FA deteriorated after 1 year as measured by ADL and Timed Up & Go test. Pmax and υopt, but not HGS, also decreased significantly after 1 year. Nevertheless, 1-year changes in FAs were not related to changes in HGS, Pmax, υopt, or PA.


CONCLUSIONS
The 1-year period of physical inactivity among older institutionalized adults was found to have a negative effect on their FAs, Pmax, and υopt. The present study demonstrates that Pmax and, especially, υopt correlated with FAs of older adults more than HGS, both at baseline and at follow-up. Despite this, 1-year natural fluctuations of PA, Pmax, and υopt are not significant enough to influence FAs in inactive institutionalized older adults.
Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Izabela
I
Kozicka
Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Tomasz
T
Kostka
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011044:Poland; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
aging; functional status; handgrip strength; institutionalization; physical activity