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Age-specific comparisons in the rate of force development of toe pressure strength and its association with the timed up and go test

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the association between Rate of Force Development (RFD) of toe pressure strength and the timed up and go test (TUG) by age group.

AbstractSection Findings

RFD of toe pressure strength in older adults was significantly lower than in younger adults. A significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength was found only in the older adults.

AbstractSection Message

The results encourage us to focus not only on maximal muscle strength but also on RFD with regard to toe pressure strength in older adults. Additionally, it was suggested that an approach to RFD of toe pressure strength could improve sitting, standing, and walking in older adults.

Abstract

Purpose

It has recently been recommended that Rate of Force Development (RFD) be evaluated in addition to maximal muscle strength. There are no studies on RFD of toe pressure strength, and its importance in older adults and the extent to which it is associated with aging needs to be clarified. This study purpose was to examine the association between the RFD of toe pressure strength and timed up and go test (TUG) in an age-specific study.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional study. Participants in the study included 159 younger adults (26.3 ± 13.1 years, 52% male) and 88 older adults (75.0 ± 6.2 years, 26% male). The RFD of toe pressure strength was determined from the force–time curve obtained during the toe pressure strength assessment, and the ability to exert maximum muscle force in the shortest possible time was assessed. Regression analysis was performed for each group to test the association between RFD of toe pressure strength and TUG by age.

Results

Younger adults showed no association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength, and significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength was found only in the older adults (standard regression coefficient =  − 0.19, p = 0.048).

Conclusion

This study showed a significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength in older adults. These findings show that RFD is one of the functions that should be assessed, particularly in older adults. Furthermore, it was suggested that approaching RFD could improve gait, standing, and sitting movements.

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Data statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishikyushu University, 4490-9, Ozaki, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan

    Taishiro Kamasaki, Hiroshi Otao, Mizuki Hachiya, Atsuko Kubo, Hiroyuki Okawa, Asuka Sakamoto & Kazuhiko Fujiwara

  2. Doctoral Program of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan

    Taishiro Kamasaki & Suguru Shimokihara

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Reiwa Health Sciences University, 2-1-12, Washirokaoka, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 811-0213, Japan

    Shinichi Tanaka

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keitendo Koga Hospital, 1150 Kamioda, Kouhoku, Kishima, Saga, 849-0506, Japan

    Takuya Suenaga

  5. Department of Rehabilitation, St. Mary’s Hospital, 422, Tsubuku Honmachi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-8543, Japan

    Yo Kichize

  6. Department of Occupational Therapy, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8520, Japan

    Michio Maruta

  7. Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 137-1, Enokizu, Okawa, Fukuoka, 831-8501, Japan

    Gwanghee Han

  8. Visiting Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan

    Michio Maruta & Gwanghee Han

  9. Miz Co., Ltd, 1-1-11, Mizugae, Saga, 840-0054, Japan

    Yasuhiro Mizokami

  10. Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan

    Takayuki Tabira

Authors
  1. Taishiro Kamasaki
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  2. Hiroshi Otao
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  3. Shinichi Tanaka
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  4. Mizuki Hachiya
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  14. Yasuhiro Mizokami
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  15. Takayuki Tabira
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Contributions

Since we work as a team, essentially all authors are involved in planning the study, conducting the study, and reviewing it after it is written. Roles with particular contributions are listed below. Taishiro Kamasaki: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, writing—original draft. Hiroshi Otao: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, supervision. Shinichi Tanaka: methodology, investigation, data curation. Mizuki Hachiya: investigation, data curation. Atsuko Kubo: resources, conceptualization. Hiroyuki Okawa: resources, visualization. Asuka Sakamoto: resources, methodology. Kazuhiko Fujiwara: resources, visualization. Takuya Suenaga: validation, writing—review and editing. Yo Kichize: validation, writing—review and editing. Suguru Shimokihara: formal analysis, project administration. Michio Maruta: methodology, formal analysis, project administration. Gwanghee Han: validation, writing—review and editing. Yasuhiro Mizokami: project administration, supervision. Takayuki Tabira: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taishiro Kamasaki.

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Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest to disclose in this study.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Nishikyushu University, where the responsible author is affiliated (Approval number 23SAQ02).

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All participants provided informed consent.

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Sup_Figure1.

Sample data from younger adults and older adults. Data from the second of three measurements are shown. a (Younger adults): 20 years old, female, 157.1 cm, 56.1 kg, Maximum muscle strength 196N, Time required to reach maximum muscle strength 0.78S, RFD 251.2N/s. b (Older adults): 77 years old, female, 147.5 cm, 55.3 kg, Maximum muscle strength 159N, Time required to reach maximum muscle strength 4.37S, RFD 36.4N/s. (TIF 36 kb)

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Kamasaki, T., Otao, H., Tanaka, S. et al. Age-specific comparisons in the rate of force development of toe pressure strength and its association with the timed up and go test. Eur Geriatr Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-024-00959-2

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