scholarly journals Eccentric Overload Flywheel Training in Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsi Kowalchuk ◽  
Scotty Butcher
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Eccentric Overload

Age-related reductions in muscle strength and muscle power can have significant adverse effects on functional performance in older adults. Exercise training has been shown to be a potent stimulus for improvements in strength and power. However, investigation into how to best optimize training-related adaptations, as well as the accessibility of training methods, is needed. Traditional (TR) methods using gravity-dependent free-weights or weight machines can improve and maintain strength and power but are limited in their ability to provide constant muscle tension and high levels of muscle activation throughout the lowering (eccentric) phase of lifting. Eccentric overload (EO) training may overcome these limitations and has been shown to result in potent adaptations in both young and older adults. Methods of producing EO are significantly limited from a practical perspective. The addition of whole-body flywheel training equipment provides a practical method of producing EO and may be appropriate for older adults wanting to optimize training outcomes. Our review provides limited evidence of the use of eccentric overload flywheel training as a novel training method in seniors. Through the review of literature, EO training overcame some of the limitations set forth by traditional resistance training and demonstrated to have key benefits when combating age-related changes affecting muscle strength and muscle power. It can be concluded that EO training is an important addition to the training arsenal for older adults. Flywheel training provides a practical method of achieving EO, increasing strength and power, combating age-related adaptations, and overall improving quality of life in older adults.

scholarly journals Electromyographic activation patterns during swallowing in older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Young Ko ◽  
Hayoung Kim ◽  
Joonyoung Jang ◽  
Jun Chang Lee ◽  
Ju Seok Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Viscous Fluid ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Fatty Infiltration ◽  
Liquid Volume ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Age Related

AbstractAge-related weakness due to atrophy and fatty infiltration in oropharyngeal muscles may be related to dysphagia in older adults. However, little is known about changes in the oropharyngeal muscle activation pattern in older adults. This was a prospective and experimental study. Forty healthy participants (20 older [> 60 years] and 20 young [< 60 years] adults) were enrolled. Six channel surface electrodes were placed over the bilateral suprahyoid (SH), bilateral retrohyoid (RH), thyrohyoid (TH), and sternothyroid (StH) muscles. Electromyography signals were then recorded twice for each patient during swallowing of 2 cc of water, 5 cc of water, and 5 cc of a highly viscous fluid. Latency, duration, and peak amplitude were measured. The activation patterns were the same, in the order of SH, TH, and StH, in both groups. The muscle activation patterns were classified as type I and II; the type I pattern was characterized by a monophasic shape, and the type II comprised a pre-reflex phase and a main phase. The oropharyngeal muscles and SH muscles were found to develop a pre-reflex phase specifically with increasing volume and viscosity of the swallowed fluid. Type I showed a different response to the highly viscous fluid in the older group compared to that in the younger group. However, type II showed concordant changes in the groups. Therefore, healthy older people were found to compensate for swallowing with a pre-reflex phase of muscle activation in response to increased liquid volume and viscosity, to adjust for age-related muscle weakness.

scholarly journals Screening for Sarcopenia (Physical Frailty) in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Amira Mohammed Ali ◽  
Hiroshi Kunugi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Muscle Loss ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes

Although the numbers of aged populations have risen considerably in the last few decades, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has revealed an extensive vulnerability among these populations. Sarcopenia is an age-related disorder that increases hospitalization, dependencies, and mortality in older adults. It starts to develop in midlife or even earlier as a result of unbalanced diet/poor nutrition and low levels of physical activity, in addition to chronic disorders such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. Given that social isolation is adopted as the most protective measure against COVID-19, the level of physical activity and the intake of adequate diet have considerably declined, especially among older adults—denoting an increased possibility for developing sarcopenia. Research also shows a higher vulnerability of sarcopenic people to COVID-19 as well as the development of wasting disorders such as sarcopenia and cachexia in a considerable proportion of symptomatic and recovering COVID-19 patients. Muscular wasting in COVID-19 is associated with poor prognosis. Accordingly, early detection and proper management of sarcopenia and wasting conditions in older adults and COVID-19 patients may minimize morbidity and mortality during the current COVID-19 crisis. This review explored different aspects of screening for sarcopenia, stressing their relevance to the detection of altered muscular structure and performance in patients with COVID-19. Current guidelines recommend prior evaluation of muscle strength by simple measures such as grip strength to identify individuals with proven weakness who then would be screened for muscle mass loss. The latter is best measured by MRI and CT. However, due to the high cost and radiation risk entailed by these techniques, other simpler and cheaper techniques such as DXA and ultrasound are given preference. Muscle loss in COVID-19 patients was measured during the acute phase by CT scanning of the pectoralis muscle simultaneously during a routine check for lung fibrosis, which seems to be an efficient evaluation of sarcopenia among those patients with no additional cost. In recovering patients, muscle strength and physical performance have been evaluated by electromyography and traditional tests such as the six-minute walk test. Effective preventive and therapeutic interventions are necessary in order to prevent muscle loss and associated physical decline in COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Effects of vibration therapy on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Wu ◽  
Hong-Ting Ning ◽  
Su-Mei Xiao ◽  
Ming-Yue Hu ◽  
Xin-Yin Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Local Vibration ◽  
Vibration Therapy

Abstract Background Sarcopenia, a progressive loss of muscle mass and function with advancing age, is a prevalent condition among older adults. As most older people are too frail to do intensive exercise and vibration therapy has low risk and ease of participation, it may be more readily accepted by elderly individuals. However, it remains unclear whether vibration therapy would be effective among older adults with sarcopenia. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effect of vibration therapy including local vibration therapy and whole-body vibration therapy, for enhancing muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function in older people with sarcopenia. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2019 in the following 5 electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with no restriction of language or the year of publication. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies examining effects of vibration therapy on muscle mass, muscle strength or physical function in older adults with sarcopenia were included in this systematic review. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the selected studies. Results Of the 1972 identified studies, seven publications from six studies involving 223 participants were included in this systematic review. Five of them conducted whole-body vibration therapy, while two conducted local vibration therapy. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies indicated that muscle strength significantly increased after whole-body vibration therapy (SMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.11, I2 = 0%, P = 0.001) and local vibration therapy (SMD 3.78, 95% CI 2.29 to 5.28, P < 0.001). Physical performance measured by the sit-to-stand test and the timed-up-and-go test were significantly improved after the intervention (SMD -0.79, 95% CI − 1.21 to − 0.37, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001) and SMD -0.83, 95% CI − 1.56 to − 0.11, I2 = 64%, P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion Vibration therapy could be a prospective strategy for improving muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia. However, due to the limited number of the included studies, caution is needed when interpreting these results. More well-designed, large sample size studies should be conducted to further explore and validate the benefits of vibration therapy for this population.

Sleep disturbances in adults with frailty and sarcopenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-107
Author(s):  
Reona Chiba ◽  
Yuki Ohashi ◽  
Akiko Ozaki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Short Sleep Duration ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Several epidemiological studies have reported an age-related increase in the prevalence of sleep disturbances. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep and sarcopenia/frailty in older adults and clarify issues that remain to be addressed in future studies. Design/methodology/approach PubMed was searched for relevant studies with the following keywords in the title: “sleep” and “sarcopenia” or “sleep” and “frailty.” A total of 15 studies published in English between 1998 and 2018 were reviewed. Findings Among the four studies that examined the relationship between sarcopenia and sleep, two reported that long or short sleep duration increased the risk of sarcopenia and this association was more pronounced in women than men. Among the seven studies examining the relationship between frailty and sleep, four reported that higher Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were associated with an increased risk of frailty. Practical implications Most previous studies have focused on interventions targeting a single area such as muscle strength or exercise habits, in older adults at risk for frailty. The results suggest that interventions targeting improved sleep may positively impact the maintenance of muscle strength. Originality/value The literature review revealed that too much or too little sleep increases the risk of sarcopenia in older adults. Further, sleep deprivation, greater night-time wakefulness and reduced sleep quality increase the risk of frailty. Interestingly, the risk of mortality is increased in individuals with daytime functional disorders such as excessive drowsiness or napping habits.

scholarly journals Age-congruency and contact effects in body expression recognition from point-light displays (PLD)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra M.J. Pollux ◽  
Frouke Hermens ◽  
Alexander P. Willmott
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Skill ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Expression Recognition ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Experience Effects ◽  
Point Light ◽  
Body Expression

Recognition of older people’s body expressions is a crucial social skill. We here investigate how age, not just of the observer, but also of the observed individual, affects this skill. Age may influence the ability to recognize other people’s body expressions by changes in one’s own ability to perform certain action over the life-span (i.e., an own-age bias may occur, with best recognition for one’s own age). Whole body point light displays of children, young adults and older adults (>70 years) expressing six different emotions were presented to observers of the same three age-groups. Across two variations of the paradigm, no evidence for the predicted own-age bias (a cross-over interaction between one’s own age and the observed person’s age) was found. Instead, experience effects were found with children better recognizing older actors’ expressions of ‘active emotions,’ such as anger and happiness with greater exposure in daily life. Together, the findings suggest that age-related changes in one own’s mobility only influences body expression categorization in young children who interact frequently with older adults.

scholarly journals Older Adults Overcome Reduced Triceps Surae Structural Stiffness to Preserve Ankle Joint Quasi-Stiffness During Walking

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Krupenevich ◽  
William H. Clark ◽  
Gregory S. Sawicki ◽  
Jason R. Franz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Ankle Joint ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Triceps Surae Muscle ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Lower Ankle Joint

Ankle joint quasi-stiffness is an aggregate measure of the interaction between triceps surae muscle stiffness and Achilles tendon stiffness. This interaction may be altered due to age-related changes in the structural properties and functional behavior of the Achilles tendon and triceps surae muscles. The authors hypothesized that, due to a more compliant of Achilles’ tendon, older adults would exhibit lower ankle joint quasi-stiffness than young adults during walking and during isolated contractions at matched triceps surae muscle activations. The authors also hypothesized that, independent of age, triceps surae muscle stiffness and ankle joint quasi-stiffness would increase with triceps surae muscle activation. The authors used conventional gait analysis in one experiment and, in another, electromyographic biofeedback and in vivo ultrasound imaging applied during isolated contractions. The authors found no difference in ankle joint quasi-stiffness between young and older adults during walking. Conversely, this study found that (1) young and older adults modulated ankle joint quasi-stiffness via activation-dependent changes in triceps surae muscle length–tension behavior and (2) at matched activation, older adults exhibited lower ankle joint quasi-stiffness than young adults. Despite age-related reductions during isolated contractions, ankle joint quasi-stiffness was maintained in older adults during walking, which may be governed via activation-mediated increases in muscle stiffness.

scholarly journals Age-related erosion of obstacle avoidance reflexes evoked with electrical stimulation of tibial nerve during walking

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1528-1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra R. Hundza ◽  
Amit Gaur ◽  
Ryan Brodie ◽  
Drew Commandeur ◽  
Marc D. Klimstra
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Obstacle Avoidance ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Tibial Nerve ◽  
Ankle Dorsiflexion ◽  
Prodromal Phase ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Stimulation Of

In young healthy adults, characteristic obstacle avoidance reflexes have been demonstrated in response to electrical stimulation of cutaneous afferents of the foot during walking. It is unknown whether there is an age-related erosion of this obstacle avoidance reflex evoked with stimulation to the tibial nerve innervating the sole of the foot. The purpose of this study was to identify age-dependent differences in obstacle avoidance reflexes evoked with electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at the ankle during walking in healthy young and older (70 yr and older) adults with no history of falls. Toe clearance, ankle and knee joint displacement and angular velocity, and electromyograms (EMG) of the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, and vastus lateralis were measured. A significant erosion of kinematic and EMG obstacle avoidance reflexes was seen in the older adults compared with the young. Specifically, during swing phase, there was reduced toe clearance, ankle dorsiflexion, and knee flexion angular displacement in older adults compared with the young as well as changes in muscle activation. These degraded reflexes were superimposed on altered kinematics seen during unperturbed walking in the older adults including reduced toe clearance and knee flexion and increased ankle dorsiflexion compared with the young. Notably, during mid-swing the toe clearance was reduced in the older adults compared with the young by 2 cm overall, resulting from a combination of 1-cm reduced reflex response in the older adults superimposed on 1-cm less toe clearance during unperturbed walking. Together, these age-related differences could represent the prodromal phase of fall risk. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrated age-dependent erosion of obstacle avoidance reflexes evoked with electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at the ankle during walking. There was significant reduction in toe clearance, ankle dorsiflexion, and knee flexion reflexes as well as changes in muscle activation during swing phase in older adults with no history of falls compared with the young. These degraded reflexes, superimposed on altered kinematics seen during unperturbed walking, likely represent the prodromal phase of fall risk.

scholarly journals Relevance of Whole-Body Vibration Exercises on Muscle Strength/Power and Bone of Elderly Individuals

Dose-Response ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932581881306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Bemben ◽  
Christina Stark ◽  
Redha Taiar ◽  
Mario Bernardo-Filho
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Age Related

Beneficial effects are associated with whole-body vibration exercises (WBVEs). Increases in muscular strength/power, flexibility, and gait speed; improvements in bone mineral density, balance, and the quality of life; and decreased pain and risk of falls are reported. The aim is to present a review about the importance of WBVE for elderly individuals, considering clinical studies and meta-analyses, on bone and muscle strength/power. There is evidence supporting beneficial effect of WBVE in postmenopausal women (PW); however, effects in PW with osteoporosis are unclear. Age-related decrease in muscle mass and function contribute to undesirable health conditions, including death risk. The WBVEs improve muscle strength/power, functional independence measure, balance, and various fall risk factors, and mobility, measured by Timed Up and Go test, increased significantly after WBVE. An explanation for the absence of positive effects in some outcomes could be related to discrepancies in WBVE protocols as well as the populations tested. It is concluded that WBVE is effective for counteracting the loss of muscle strength associated with sarcopenia in elderly individuals. Balance and leg and plantar flexor strength improvements due to WBV indicate benefit to reduce risk and incidence of falls, frailty, and fracture risks. However, long-term feasibility of WBVE for musculoskeletal and bone health in elderly individuals needs further investigation.

Effect of the Alexander Technique on Muscle Activation, Movement Kinematics, and Performance Quality in Collegiate Violinists and Violists: A Pilot Feasibility Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey P Thurmer ◽  
William P Berg ◽  
Henry E Cook ◽  
L James Smart
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Motion Tracking ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Alexander Technique ◽  
Movement Kinematics ◽  
Objective Evidence ◽  
Pilot Feasibility Study

Musicians are trained to attend to aural and visual senses, to the detriment of kinesthetic awareness, which often results in unnecessary muscle tension and narrowed attentional focus. The Alexander technique (AT) addresses these concerns by approaching action using a process of whole-body consciousness. Incorporation of AT concepts into skill practice may reduce static tension in playing and result in both prevention of injury and improved quality of performance, but objective evidence of these effects is lacking. This pilot feasibility study was designed to determine if muscle activation, movement kinematics, musical performance, and qualitative self-assessment over the course of a 10- week AT intervention are viable means to assess the efficacy of AT in violinists/ violists. Two groups of collegiate violinists and violists participated: Group A (n=4) participated in weekly 1-hour group AT lessons and kept a personal journal of their progress. Group B (n=3) received no AT lessons. Pre- and post tests included muscle activation recorded using electromyography (EMG) and movement kinematics recorded via motion tracking as musicians played a scale and a Kreutzer étude. Performance was also video-recorded and evaluated by an expert for quality and kinesthetic awareness. The results suggest that the measures and intervention employed could, with some adaptation, be a viable means of determining the potential benefits of AT training.

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