Muscle mass is not significantly lost during short-term hospitalization of relatively high functioning and active geriatric patients although our findings are potentially affected by changes in hydration status. Resistance training during hospitalization increases skeletal muscle mass, and patients with high levels of systemic inflammation demonstrate less ability to increase or preserve muscle mass in response to resistance training during illness.
Aim This study aimed to examine changes in lean mass during hospitalization in geriatric patients and the effect of muscle activation by neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Methods Thirteen patients (69–94 yr) at a geriatric ward completed tests at hospital admission (days 2–3) and discharge (days 8–10). One leg received daily stimulation of the knee extensors, whereas the other leg served as a control leg. Lean mass was evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans and muscle thickness by ultrasound scans. Muscle biopsies were collected from both legs at admission and discharge in nine patients and analyzed for fiber size, satellite cell number, and activation and expression of genes associated with muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, connective tissue, and cellular stress. Results The relative decline in leg lean mass and midthigh region lean mass was larger in the control (−2.8% ± 1.5%) versus the stimulated leg (−0.5% ± 1.4%, P < 0.05). Although there were no changes in fiber size or satellite cell number, the mRNA data revealed that, compared with control, the stimulation resulted in a downregulation of myostatin (P < 0.05) and a similar trend for MAFbx (P = 0.099), together with an upregulation of Collagen I (P < 0.001), TenascinC (P < 0.001), CD68 (P < 0.01), and Ki67 (P < 0.05) mRNA. Conclusion These findings demonstrate a moderate decline in leg lean mass during a hospital stay in geriatric patients, whereas leg lean mass was preserved with daily neuromuscular electrical muscle activation. At the cellular level, the stimulation had a clear influence on suppression of atrophy signaling pathways in parallel with a stimulation of connective tissue and cellular remodeling processes.
BackgroundIn 2012, the Danish Parliament decided to increase retirement age. Unfortunately, elderly people working in a physically demanding environment may be rendered unable to retain the ability to adequately perform the physical requirements of their jobs, due to age-related decreases in physical performance. Therefore, increasing the retirement age may not necessarily lead to the goal of keeping everybody in the labor market for a longer time. To date, our knowledge about the variations in physical performance of the elderly workforce is limited.ObjectiveIn this cross-sectional study we seek to investigate the effects of aging on physical performance among elderly manual workers.MethodsApproximately 100 Danish manual workers between 50 and 70 years of age will be recruited. The main measurement outcomes include: (1) inflammatory status from blood samples; (2) body composition; (3) lung function; (4) static and dynamic balance; (5) reaction time, precision, and movement variability during a hammering task; (6) handgrip strength, rate of force development, and force tracking; (7) estimated maximal rate of oxygen consumption; and (8) back mobility. Additionally, information regarding working conditions, physical activity levels, and health status will be assessed with a questionnaire.ResultsData collection is expected to take place between autumn 2017 and spring 2018.ConclusionsThis study will increase the knowledge regarding variations in physical performance in the elderly workforce and may identify potential workplace hazards. Moreover, this study might shed light on the potentially problematic decision to increase retirement age for all Danish citizens.
Ageing is associated with a decrease in physical performance implying that aged manual workers may be unable to match the physical requirements of their jobs. In this cross-sectional study, 96 male manual workers aged 51-72 years were recruited. Outcomes included handgrip strength (HGS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness (Vo 2 max), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 s (FEV 1 ), spinal flexibility, sit-to-stand test performance and static balance. Covariates included height, smoking habits, leisure-time physical activity and systemic inflammation from blood samples. Outcomes were also compared with general populations. Age was negatively related to FFM and FEV 1 , whereas static balance (velocity of displacement) was positively associated with age. Greater HGS, but poorer Vo 2 max and FEV 1 /FEV ratio were found compared with general populations. Age was negatively related with physical performances although a large part of the variance in performance could be explained by factors other than age such as smoking and systemic inflammation. The manual workers had greater muscle strength but had poorer cardiorespiratory fitness and lung function when compared with general populations. Specific health interventions targeting specifically cardiorespiratory fitness, lung function, and balance may be needed to maintain physical performances among manual workers.Noticeable age-related reductions in physical performance typically start beyond the third 1 and accelerate after the fifth decade of life 2-5 . These changes include reduced muscle strength 3 and cardiorespiratory fitness 4 , altered body composition 2 and impaired lung function 4 . Together, these adverse effects of ageing eventually culminate in diminished physical performances and mobility impairments 6,7 . An inactive life style has been ascribed as an important factor contributing to such changes and increasing physical activity-through either aerobic or resistance-based exercise-may mitigate some of the negative effects of age on physical performances 6,8 .Adults who have physically demanding jobs are inherently physically active in their working life. Intuitively, this should retain their physical performance to a greater extent than that of people doing sedentary work 8-10 . However, the physical activities performed by manual workers may help in maintaining muscle strength 11 , but do not seem to improve cardiorespiratory fitness [11][12][13][14][15] . Moreover, a recent systematic review has shown that high occupational physical activity increases the risk of all-cause mortality by 18% 16 . Average life expectancy has steadily increased over the last century, which has led policymakers to pass laws that increase retirement age in an attempt to accommodate the growing population of senior workers. The effect of increasing retirement age may therefore be to shorten the years lived in good health for manual workers 17 . Although muscle strength is reportedly higher in manual workers when compared with...
Aims: To investigate the associations between both high- and low-intensity leisure-time physical activity on physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints among manual workers aged 50–70 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1763 manual workers (mean age 57.1, SD ± 4.7 years) replied to questions about leisure-time physical activity, physical-work ability, chronic musculoskeletal complaints as well as health and lifestyle factors. Ordinal and binomial logistic regression models were constructed to assess the influence of the duration of both low- and high-intensity physical activity on physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints, respectively. Models were adjusted for gender, age, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, physical-work demand, work experience, chronic disease and, regarding physical-work ability, also for chronic musculoskeletal complaints. Results: A statistically significant association between greater physical-work ability and high-intensity physical activity was found for workers engaged in 3–4 h/wk and ⩾ 5 h/wk (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15–2.19 and OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.10–2.22, respectively). For both high- and low-intensity physical activity, a duration of 3–4 h/wk was associated with lower odds of reporting chronic musculoskeletal complaints in the knees (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42–1.00 and OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–0.99, respectively). Conclusions: Engaging in ⩾ 3 h/wk of high-intensity leisure-time physical activity was associated with greater physical-work ability among manual workers aged 50–70 years. Both high- and low-intensity physical activity related to lower odds of having chronic musculoskeletal complaints in the knees.
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