Kenneth H Mertz1, Søren Reitelseder1,2, Mikkel Jensen1, Jonas Lindberg1, Morten Hjulmand1, Aide Schucany1, Søren Binder Andersen1, Rasmus L Bechshoeft1, Markus D Jakobsen3, Theresa Bieler1,4, Nina Beyer1,4, Jakob Lindberg Nielsen5, Per Aagaard5, Lars Holm1,2,6. 1. Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Department of Orthopedic Surgery M, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 3. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 6. School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. METHODS: Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 ± 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. RESULTS: Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 ± 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 ± 11.8% vs 11.1 ± 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r2 = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r2 = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r2 = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. CONCLUSION: The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.
PURPOSE: Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. METHODS: Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 ± 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. RESULTS: Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 ± 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 ± 11.8% vs 11.1 ± 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r2 = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r2 = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r2 = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. CONCLUSION: The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.
Authors: Silvia Stagi; Alessia Moroni; Margherita Micheletti Cremasco; Elisabetta Marini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Daniel Jerez-Mayorga; Álvaro Huerta-Ojeda; Luis Javier Chirosa-Ríos; Francisco Guede-Rojas; Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán; Leonardo Intelangelo; Claudia Miranda-Fuentes; Pedro Delgado-Floody Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-25 Impact factor: 3.390