This study protocol introduces the Kasama Study, a mid-sized longitudinal study of health, fitness, and physical activity in older people. The study is a challenging research project that discusses the future of the system for preventive nursing care and for supporting successful aging in Japan. In May 2008, we began the Kasama Study with an exercise program of preventive nursing care for community-dwelling older adults. As of March 2016, we have conducted six study projects: 1) the Kasama health checkup for longevity, 2) an all-round exercise class, 3) the volunteer and the circle, 4) an exercise class for men only, 5) an exercise class for improving cognitive and physical function, and 6) the Kasama Iki-iki checklist survey. We describe each project in detail in the present study protocol. Keywords : Kasama Study, community-dwelling older adults, community-based intervention, community-based health promotion What is the Kasama Study?Launched at Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, in May 2008, the Kasama Study is a mid-sized longitudinal study of health, fitness, and physical activity in older people. The study aims to create a comprehensive, community-based system for preventive nursing care and supporting successful aging (Fig. 1). In addition to research, it has been acknowledged that local communities require social contribution activities conducted by universities, including providing instructions for a variety of exercise trainings for successful aging. Therefore, the Kasama Study can be characterized as a field of practice in which not only research, but also education and social contribution activities are simultaneously conducted.Before beginning the Kasama Study, the authors illustrated Fig. 2 to explain the hypotheses that the study should demonstrate. Certainly, the study's ultimate goal is to extend healthy life expectancy, which is clearly influenced not only by medical variables, but also by physical, psychological, and cognitive functions. For example, higher levels of walking ability and lower extremity muscle function are undoubtedly associated with a longer healthy life expectancy. To provide a hypothetical example, we ask how an individual can acquire higher-level physical functions. The answer may be by maintaining a high level of physical activity by frequently going outdoors, at least for the last few years. We can also ask how that individual is able to maintain a higher level of physical activity. actions and relationships. The above description, however, has focused only on personal factors, but investigating the relationship of health and fitness with environmental factors, such as the geographical environment and social capital, is also necessary.The Kasama Study is a challenging research project that tests the above hypotheses comprehensively by having young researchers, many under 30 years of age, conduct various types of surveys based on their individual research themes that are in accordance with the Kasama Study's goals. In this review, therefore, we describe the de...
Ground reaction force (GRF) in sit-to-stand (STS) movement is used mainly for evaluating lower extremity muscle strength. We attempted to evaluate not only lower extremity muscle strength, but also balance ability from GRF in STS movement. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between GRF variables, including composite variables, which are the combination of parameters representing lower extremity muscle strength and balance ability, and mobility limitation and falls. This study included 381 community-dwelling older adults (73.8 ± 5.3 years; 45.9% men). We measured the maximal rate of force development over 87.5 ms/body weight (RFD8.75/w) and peak reaction force/body weight (F/w) to evaluate lower extremity muscle strength. We also measured lateral load sway divided by the change in vertical load/second (vx/vw) to evaluate balance ability. We then created composite variables of these variables. To perform logistic regression analysis separated by gender, three groups based on the tertile of each variable were used. Composite variables that comprised the Rv score, which was the combination of RFD8.75/w and vx/vw, and Fv scores, which combined F/w and vx/vw, were especially effective for evaluating the risk of mobility limitation in both genders. In evaluating the fall risk, the Rv and Fv scores of the poor group in women only showed significantly higher odds ratios of 2.74 (95% CI: 1.21 -6.20) and 3.02 (95% CI: 1.31 -6.96), respectively. These results suggest that the composite variables, Rv and Fv scores, are superior for evaluating risks of mobility limitation and falls, rather than each single variable.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate which of the four chair-rising methods has low-load and the highest success rate, and whether the GRF parameters in that method are useful for measuring lower extremity function among physically frail Japanese older adults. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-two individuals participated in this study. The participants voluntarily attempted four types of Sit-to-stand test (one variation without and three variations with the use of their arms). The following parameters were measured: peak reaction force (F/w), two force development rate parameters (RFD1.25/w, RFD8.75/w) and two time-related parameters (T1, T2). Three additional commonly employed clinical tests (One-leg balance with eyes open, Timed up and go and 5-meter walk test) were also conducted. [Results] “Hands on a chair” chair-rising method produced the highest success rate among the four methods. All parameters were highly reliable between testing occasions. T2 showed strongly significant associations with Timed up and go and 5-meter walk test in males. RFD8.75/w showed significant associations with Timed up and go and 5-meter walk test in females. [Conclusion] Ground reaction force parameters in the Sit-to-stand test are a reliable and useful method for assessment of lower extremity function in physically frail Japanese older adults.
Physical fitness, which can be measured using various health- and skill-related components, is an important indicator of child development and health status. This study undertakes a scoping review on physical fitness assessment methods in preschool children to summarize the most widely used field-based physical fitness batteries and specific test items for preschool children. A search of the literature in English was undertaken using two major electronics databases, which yielded 76 literatures that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These literatures took the quantitative indicators of physical fitness as the outcome variables in 3–6-year-old children. This review found that of these 76 literatures analyzed, 71.1% came from Europe and 89.5% were published after 2010. The results showed six physical fitness test batteries, with the assessing FITness in PREschoolers (PREFIT) battery is the most widely used, and specific test items such as body mass index (BMI), standing long jump, handgrip, one-leg stance, sit and reach, 20 m shuttle run test (SRT)-PREFIT, and 4 × 10 m SRT are widely used in corresponding components. Therefore, we recommend that an international standard for some specific test items should be developed for preschool children to facilitate more widespread adoption and promote physical fitness assessment for preschool children.
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