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Reproducibility of jumping mechanography and traditional measures of physical and muscle function in older adults

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Abstract

Summary

Improved approaches to assess functional change over time are needed to optimally reduce fall/fracture risk; jumping mechanography (JM) may be one such methodology. In this study, JM parameters were more reproducible than traditional functional tests. JM may be better able to demonstrate efficacy of interventions to mitigate sarcopenia.

Introduction

Jumping mechanography (JM), a tool using maximal countermovement jumps performed on a force plate, may more reliably assess muscle function than traditional methods. The purpose of this study was to examine JM retest reliability in older adults compared with commonly used muscle and physical function assessments.

Methods

Community-dwelling individuals age ≥70 years performed physical and muscle function assessments including the short physical performance battery (SPPB), grip strength, and JM on multiple occasions over 3 months. JM parameters included body weight-corrected peak power and jump height. Appendicular lean mass was measured by dual energy x-ray (DXA). Mixed effects linear regression models were used to estimate between- and within-person variability summarized as intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results

Ninety-seven individuals (49 females, 48 males, mean age 80.7 years) participated. All testing was well tolerated; no participant sustained injury. Jump power, height, and grip strength were greater (p < 0.0001) in men than women. Grip strength, jump power, and height had excellent ICCs (0.95, 0.93, and 0.88, respectively); chair rise, SPPB score, and gait speed had lower ICCs (0.81, 0.77, and 0.76, respectively).

Conclusion

In older adults, JM has excellent retest reliability, is stable over time, and can be performed safely. JM retest reliability was comparable to grip strength and possibly better than SPPB and gait speed. JM is a promising tool for muscle function assessment in older adults. Comparison of this approach with traditional assessment tools in longitudinal interventional studies is needed.

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Acknowledgments

All authors contributed to the study concept and design, acquisition of subjects and data, analysis and interpretation of data, and preparation of manuscript. This work was sponsored by an investigator initiated research grant from Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc and did not have any role in the design, methods, subject recruitment, data collection, analysis, or preparation of paper. Dr. Buehring receives research funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation as a Centers of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Psychiatry scholar. Dr. Binkley is participating in a multicenter trial with Lilly in functional outcomes in older adults. He also consults on the same project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osteoporosis Clinical Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 100, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    B. Buehring, D. Krueger, E. Fidler & N. Binkley

  2. GRECC, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    B. Buehring & N. Binkley

  3. Departments of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics and Population Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    R. Gangnon

  4. Departments of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation and Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    B. Heiderscheit

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  1. B. Buehring
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Correspondence to B. Buehring.

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Buehring, B., Krueger, D., Fidler, E. et al. Reproducibility of jumping mechanography and traditional measures of physical and muscle function in older adults. Osteoporos Int 26, 819–825 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-014-2983-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-014-2983-z

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