Association between toe grasping strength and accelerometer-determined physical activity in middle-aged and older women

Abstract

[Purpose] To test the hypothesis that toe grasping strength is associated with daily physical activity in older adults. [Subjects] Fifty-seven Japanese women, aged 52–78 years, volunteered. [Methods] Toe grasping and knee extension strength were measured. Physical activity was also measured, using an accelerometer, and the total duration of each level of exercise intensity (light, moderate, and vigorous) and average step counts were calculated. Subjects were separated into two groups on the basis of accelerometer-determined step counts: LOW (n=28, <8000 steps/day) and HIGH (n=29, ≥8000 steps/day). [Results] Body mass index and body composition (% fat and fat-free mass) were similar between the two groups. Absolute and relative toe grasping strengths (divided by body weight) were greater in HIGH than in LOW. However, both absolute and relative knee extension strength were similar between the groups. Relative toe grasping and knee extension strength correlated with all 3 intensities of physical activity and average step count. After adjusting for age, the duration of light plus moderate physical activity and average step counts correlated to toe grasping strength but not to knee extension strength. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that toe grasping strength may be associated with the amount of light intensity daily physical activity.

Age‐related reduction and independent predictors of toe flexor strength in middle‐aged men

“…Another possibility is that such associations are linked to the physical activity level and/or gait speed. Toe flexor strength reflects the level of physical activity [9, 12] and gait speed [5]. Physical activity intervention reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension [44].…”

“…Toe flexor strength is associated with the amount of low-to-moderate intensity physical activity [9, 12]. A previous study showed that toe flexor strength/BM in a higher daily step counts group (≥8000) was greater than that in a lower daily step counts group, however, such a difference in knee extensor strength/BM was not observed in women aged 52–78 years [9].…”

“…We have also previously shown that toe flexor strength is correlated with the daily sum of standing and sitting times assessed using a self-administered questionnaire [12]. Physical activity can be further divided into exercise and non-exercise activity such as labor and household affairs, and the activities in these previous studies [9, 12] would comprise both types of activity. We herein demonstrated that exercise habit was an independent predictor of toe flexor strength.…”

Poor toe flexor strength, but not handgrip strength, is associated with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in middle-aged males

“…In conToe flexor strength and diabetes trast, compared with the strength of lower limbs, HGS is lower or not associated with the amount of physical activity [20,39]. In addition, TFS is associated with gait speed [16,38]. Lower-limb muscle strength is a slightly better predictor of gait speed than HGS [40].…”

“…A lower amount of physical activity is a risk factor for type-2 diabetes mellitus [36], and gait speed is associated with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus [22,37]. TFS is positively related to physical activity [20,38]. In conToe flexor strength and diabetes trast, compared with the strength of lower limbs, HGS is lower or not associated with the amount of physical activity [20,39].…”