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Grip work estimation during sustained maximal contraction: Validity and relationship with dependency and inflammation in elderly persons

The journal of nutrition, health & aging volume 15, pages 731–736 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives

To validate muscle endurance estimation and to examine relationships with dependency and inflammation in elderly persons.

Design

Cross sectional validation and explorative study.

Setting

Hospitalized geriatric patients and community-dwelling controls.

Participants

91 elderly patients (aged 83±5 years), 100 elderly controls (aged 74±5 years) and 100 young controls (aged 23±3 years).

Measurements

Grip strength (GS) was recorded continuously during sustained maximal contraction until exhaustion. Fatigue resistance (FR) was expressed as the time during which GS drops to 50% of its maximum. Grip work (GW) was estimated as GW=GS*0.75*FR, and compared to the measured GW. In the elderly participants, relationships (controlling for age and physical activity) of GS, FR, GW and GW corrected for body weight (GW/BW) with dependency (Katz-scale) and inflammation (circulating IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were analyzed.

Results

Excellent correlation between estimated and measured GW was found (r=0.98, p<0.001). The method error coefficient of variance was 10% for all participants; 7% for all elderly and 8% for young controls. Better GS, FR, GW and GW/BW was significantly related with less dependency (all p<0.05 or p<0.01, except for FR in the male) and with lower circulating IL-6 (all p<0.05 or p<0.01, except for GS in both genders). Higher IL-6 was significantly related to worse dependency (p<0.01). No significant relationships with TNF-alpha were found.

Conclusion

GW estimation is a valid parameter reflecting muscle endurance in elderly persons presenting diverse clinical conditions. GW is significantly related to both dependency and circulating IL-6, and is a promising outcome parameter in comprehensive geriatric assessment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gerontology, Vrije Universiteit Brüssel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Ivan Bautmans, O. Onyema, S. Pleck & T. Mets

  2. Frailty in Ageing research department, Vrije Universiteit Brüssel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Ivan Bautmans, O. Onyema, S. Pleck & T. Mets

  3. Geriatrics, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brüssel, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Ivan Bautmans, K. Van Puyvelde & T. Mets

Authors
  1. Ivan Bautmans
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  2. O. Onyema
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  3. K. Van Puyvelde
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  4. S. Pleck
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  5. T. Mets
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Correspondence to Ivan Bautmans.

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Bautmans, I., Onyema, O., Van Puyvelde, K. et al. Grip work estimation during sustained maximal contraction: Validity and relationship with dependency and inflammation in elderly persons. J Nutr Health Aging 15, 731–736 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0317-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0317-1

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