Peak expiratory flow mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and timed up and go performance in elderly women, but not men

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The aim of the present study was to verify if there is sex difference in the associations among handgrip strength, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and timed up and go (TUG) test results.METHODS:The sample included 288 consecutive elderly men (n=93) and women (n=195). Functional capacity was measured using the TUG test, and muscle strength was measured based on handgrip. Moreover, as a measure of current health status, PEF was evaluated. Linear regression procedures were performed to analyze the relationships between handgrip and both PEF and TUG test results, with adjustment for confounders, and to identify the possible mediating role of PEF in the association between handgrip strength and TUG test results.RESULTS:In men, handgrip strength was associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). After adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance remained significant. In women, handgrip strength was also associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). However, after adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance was no longer significant.CONCLUSION:Mobility in the elderly is sex dependent. In particular, PEF mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance in women, but not in men.

Relationship between respiratory muscle strength and grip strength in institutionalized and community-dwelling older adults

“…Vale ressaltar que os homens do GI apresentaram perda de força periférica e respiratória mais evidente do que as mulheres, sendo esses dados também sustentados por Ritti-Dias et al 22 em um estudo com 288 idosos. Por sua vez, Bahat et al 23 estudaram um grupo de 104 homens idosos residentes de ILPI e argumentaram que a sarcopenia pode afetar a força muscular inspiratória mais precocemente ou em maior intensidade do que a força muscular expiratória.…”

“…A ausência de correlação no GI pode ter ocorrido pela maior porcentagem de idosos sedentários, podendo influenciar a capacidade de geração de força e fluxo expiratório dada a baixa reserva energética e contribuindo para uma pobre oxigenação da musculatura esquelética periférica. Ritti-Dias et al 22 estudaram uma população mista, advinda da comunidade e de ILPI, e também encontraram correlação tanto em homens como em mulheres, porém relatam que os mecanismos explicativos ainda são obscuros. Além disso, também avaliaram a mobilidade e identificaram que, em mulheres, o PFE intermedeia a relação entre a FPP e a mobilidade.…”

Determination of the relationship between respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength and grip strength of elite athletes

“…Volianitis et al conducted a study on shovel athletes and showed that the performance of shovel athletes improved as a result of inspiratory muscle training (9). (14). The studies in the literature related to respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength and peripheral muscle strength were the ones showing a decrease in pulmonary capacity mostly associated with age and the negative effects of physiological changes in pulmonary and pulmonary functions due to chronic lung diseases on peripheral muscle strength (10,25).…”

“…Also, several studies have examined the relationship between respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength in relation to sportive performance (7)(8)(9). However, studies in the literature investigating the relationship between respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength and grip strength were performed in healthy populations, geriatric individuals, and patients with systemic diseases (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Studies investigating the relationship of these parameters affecting sports performance are limited in athletes.…”

Association between respiratory capacity, quality of life and cognitive function in elderly individuals

“…( 9 ) According to a recent study, peak expiratory flow (PEF) is associated with functional variables, such as handgrip strength and performance in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test in women, but not in men. ( 10 )…”