Lower Extremity Strength and Power Are Associated with 400-meter Walk Time in Older Adults: The InCHIANTI Study

Overview

Journal J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2006 Dec 15

PMID 17167161

Citations 50

Authors

Anthony P Marsh

Michael E Miller

Aaron M Saikin

W Jack Rejeski

Nan Hu

Fulvio Lauretani

Stefania Bandinelli

Jack M Guralnik

Luigi Ferrucci

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that lower extremity muscle power is more important for physical function in older adults compared to strength, and that there is a nonlinear relationship between power or strength and physical function that might be indicative of a threshold above which the association between muscle function and physical function is no longer evident. This study examined the association between lower extremity strength or power with the time to complete a 400-meter walk, and attempted to identify thresholds within the relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a sample of 384 females and 336 males aged > or = 65 years from the InCHIANTI study ("Invecchiare in Chianti," i.e., Aging in the Chianti Area) was conducted. Measures included 400-meter walk time, lower extremity strength and power, comorbidities, and sociodemographic variables (age, gender, height, education, cognitive function, depression).

Results: Linear regression models showed that both lower extremity strength and power were significant predictors of 400-meter walk time, although power explained marginally more of the variance in 400-meter walk time. Quadratic models of lower extremity strength and power fit the data slightly better than the linear models. Regardless of gender, comorbidities, or normalization scheme for strength and power, the curvilinear form of the relationship between strength or power and 400-meter walk time remained the same.

Conclusions: Lower extremity muscle strength and power are both important predictors of the 400-meter walk time. Although curvilinear relationships existed between muscle strength and power and the 400-meter walk time, the data do not indicate a clear threshold for either strength or power above which the performance in the 400-meter walk test plateaus.

Citing Articles

Load-power relationship in older adults: The influence of maximal mean and peak power values and their associations with lower and upper-limb functional capacity.

Marques D, Neiva H, Marinho D, Pires I, Nunes C, Marques M Front Physiol. 2022; 13:1007772.

PMID: 36213245 PMC: 9539920. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1007772.

Power Training Prescription in Older Individuals: Is It Safe and Effective to Promote Neuromuscular Functional Improvements?.

Radaelli R, Trajano G, Freitas S, Izquierdo M, Cadore E, Pinto R Sports Med. 2022; 53(3):569-576.

PMID: 36036337 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01758-0.

Feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a remotely monitored exercise pilot CHAMP: A Clinical trial of High-intensity Aerobic and resistance exercise for Metastatic castrate-resistant Prostate cancer.

Kenfield S, Van Blarigan E, Panchal N, Bang A, Zhang L, Graff R Cancer Med. 2021; 10(22):8058-8070.

PMID: 34636156 PMC: 8607248. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4324.

Physical Activity Scaled to Preferred Walking Speed as a Predictor of Walking Difficulty in Older Adults: A 2-Year Follow-up.

Karavirta L, Leppa H, Rantalainen T, Eronen J, Portegijs E, Rantanen T J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2021; 77(3):597-604.

PMID: 34590115 PMC: 8893185. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab277.

Jump power, leg press power, leg strength and grip strength differentially associated with physical performance: The Developmental Epidemiologic Cohort Study (DECOS).

Winger M, Caserotti P, Ward R, Boudreau R, Hvid L, Cauley J Exp Gerontol. 2020; 145:111172.

PMID: 33245997 PMC: 7855418. DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.111172.

References

Foldvari M, Clark M, Laviolette L, Bernstein M, Kaliton D, Castaneda C . Association of muscle power with functional status in community-dwelling elderly women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000; 55(4):M192-9. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/55.4.m192. View

Ferrucci L, Bandinelli S, Benvenuti E, Di Iorio A, Macchi C, Harris T . Subsystems contributing to the decline in ability to walk: bridging the gap between epidemiology and geriatric practice in the InCHIANTI study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000; 48(12):1618-25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb03873.x. View

Kwon I, Oldaker S, Schrager M, Talbot L, Fozard J, Metter E . Relationship between muscle strength and the time taken to complete a standardized walk-turn-walk test. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001; 56(9):B398-404. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/56.9.b398. View

Suzuki T, Bean J, Fielding R . Muscle power of the ankle flexors predicts functional performance in community-dwelling older women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001; 49(9):1161-7. DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49232.x. View

Ploutz-Snyder L, Manini T, Ploutz-Snyder R, Wolf D . Functionally relevant thresholds of quadriceps femoris strength. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002; 57(4):B144-52. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/57.4.b144. View

Skelton D, Kennedy J, Rutherford O . Explosive power and asymmetry in leg muscle function in frequent fallers and non-fallers aged over 65. Age Ageing. 2002; 31(2):119-25. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/31.2.119. View

Bean J, Kiely D, Herman S, Leveille S, Mizer K, Frontera W . The relationship between leg power and physical performance in mobility-limited older people. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002; 50(3):461-7. DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50111.x. View

Lamoureux E, Sparrow W, Murphy A, Newton R . The relationship between lower body strength and obstructed gait in community-dwelling older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002; 50(3):468-73. DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50112.x. View

Lan T, Melzer D, Tom B, Guralnik J . Performance tests and disability: developing an objective index of mobility-related limitation in older populations. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002; 57(5):M294-301. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/57.5.m294. View

10.

Bean J, Kiely D, Leveille S, Herman S, Huynh C, Fielding R . The 6-minute walk test in mobility-limited elders: what is being measured?. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002; 57(11):M751-6. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/57.11.m751. View

11.

Bean J, Leveille S, Kiely D, Bandinelli S, Guralnik J, Ferrucci L . A comparison of leg power and leg strength within the InCHIANTI study: which influences mobility more?. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003; 58(8):728-33. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/58.8.m728. View

12.

Rejeski W, Fielding R, Blair S, Guralnik J, Gill T, Hadley E . The lifestyle interventions and independence for elders (LIFE) pilot study: design and methods. Contemp Clin Trials. 2005; 26(2):141-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2004.12.005. View

13.

Folstein M, Folstein S, McHugh P . "Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975; 12(3):189-98. DOI: 10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6. View

14.

Larsson L, Grimby G, Karlsson J . Muscle strength and speed of movement in relation to age and muscle morphology. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1979; 46(3):451-6. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1979.46.3.451. View

15.

Bassey E, Short A . A new method for measuring power output in a single leg extension: feasibility, reliability and validity. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1990; 60(5):385-90. DOI: 10.1007/BF00713504. View

16.

Bassey E, Fiatarone M, ONEILL E, Kelly M, Evans W, Lipsitz L . Leg extensor power and functional performance in very old men and women. Clin Sci (Lond). 1992; 82(3):321-7. DOI: 10.1042/cs0820321. View

17.

Buchner D, Larson E, Wagner E, Koepsell T, de Lateur B . Evidence for a non-linear relationship between leg strength and gait speed. Age Ageing. 1996; 25(5):386-91. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/25.5.386. View

18.

Fried L, Guralnik J . Disability in older adults: evidence regarding significance, etiology, and risk. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997; 45(1):92-100. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb00986.x. View

19.

Rantanen T, Avela J . Leg extension power and walking speed in very old people living independently. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1997; 52(4):M225-31. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/52a.4.m225. View

20.

Metter E, Conwit R, Tobin J, Fozard J . Age-associated loss of power and strength in the upper extremities in women and men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1997; 52(5):B267-76. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/52a.5.b267. View