Early reduction in toe flexor strength is associated with physical activity in elderly men

Abstract

[Purpose] To compare the toe flexor, hand grip and knee extensor strengths of young and elderly men, and to examine the association between toe flexor strength and physical activity or inactivity levels. [Subjects and Methods] Young (n=155, 18–23 years) and elderly (n=60, 65–88 years) men participated in this study. Toe flexor, hand grip, and knee extensor strength were measured. Physical activity (time spent standing/walking per day) and inactivity (time spent sitting per day) were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. [Results] Toe flexor, hand grip, and knee extensor strength of the elderly men were significantly lower than those of the young men. Standing/walking and sitting times of the elderly men were lower than those of the young men. Toe flexor strength correlated with hand grip and knee extensor strength in both groups. In elderly men, toe flexor strength correlated with standing/walking time. In comparison to the young men’s mean values, toe flexor strength was significantly lower than knee extensor and hand grip strength in the elderly group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that age-related reduction in toe flexor strength is greater than those of hand grip and knee extensor strengths. An early loss of toe flexor strength is likely associated with reduced physical activity in elderly men.

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].…”

“…In addition, the study demonstrated significant partial correlation coefficients, adjusted by age, between toe flexor strength/BM and physical activity levels, including daily step counts and amount of low-to-moderate intensity physical activity (≤6 metabolic equivalents) estimated using an accelerometer; similar correlations were not observed in knee flexor strength/BM. 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 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.…”

“…Moreover, poor toe flexor strength is a risk factor for falls in the older individuals [10, 11]. Toe flexor strength is positively correlated with knee extensor strength [12]. Toe flexor strength measurement is assumed to be a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to estimate lower limb muscle strength.…”