Tests of muscle function and health related quality of life in healthy older adults in Sweden

• BACKGROUND: Life expectancy among older adults has dramatically increased and they are one of the fastest growing populations worldwide. Maintaining quality of life and the ability to live independently are often of greater importance than overall life expectancy. OBJECTIVE: To present reference values for tests of muscle function, and to study the relationship to a commonly used tool of generic health related quality of life (HRQL) in older Swedish adults. METHODS: The study consisted of 192 individuals (105 women) aged between 65 and 80. The tests included hand grip and isometric knee extension strength measurements, the standing heel rise test and a 30 m walking test. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was evaluated using the SF-36. RESULTS: Reference values for the measured parameters are presented. There were high correlations (n = 192) between handgrip and leg extension strength (r = 0.72-0.75; p < 0.01). The walking test's self-selected speed demonstrated the strongest correlation with the physical component summary of the SF-36 (r = 0.57; p < 0.01) and with maximal speed, moderate correlations were demonstrated with muscle strength (r = 0.43-0.56; p < 0.01) and the heel rise test (r = 0.45; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study presents reference values for simple tests of muscle function which are relatively easy to perform, used in a Swedish clinical setting performing screening for older adults.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Idrottsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Sport and Fitness Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Aging

hand grip strength

muscle strength

SF-36

physical-activity

handgrip strength

grip strength

sarcopenia

sf-36

reliability

population

mass

Engineering

Orthopedics

Sport Sciences

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)