Indicators of sarcopenia and their relation to intrinsic and extrinsic factors relating to falls among active elderly women

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal aging can impair functional performance increasing the risk of falls. Objective: To analyze the correlation between sarcopenia and the intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in falls among community-dwelling elderly women. Method: A cross-sectional study evaluated the number of falls of 85 active community-dwelling elderly women in the previous year and then divided them into two groups: non-fallers (n=61) and fallers (n=24). The sarcopenia indicators assessed were gait speed (GS, 10m); handgrip strength (HS); calf circumference; appendicular muscle mass index (DXA). Intrinsic factors: Mental State Examination (MSE); visual acuity; depression (GDS-30); hip, knee (Lequesne) and ankle/foot (FAOS) pain/function; vestibular function (Fukuda test); functional mobility and risk of falls (TUG); power (sitting and standing five times); gait (treadmill); fear of falling (FES-I-Brazil). Extrinsic factors: risk/security features in homes. The independent t test was applied for comparisons between groups and the Pearson and Spearman tests were used for correlations (p<0.05). Results: There was a moderate correlation between HS and GS in non-fallers (r=0.47; p=0.001) and fallers (r= 0.54; p=0.03). There was a moderate negative correlation (r= -0.52; p=0.03) between FES-I-Brazil and gait cadence in fallers. There was a greater presence of stairs ( p=0.001) and throw rugs ( p=0.03) in the homes of fallers than non-fallers. Conclusion: The elderly women were not sarcopenic. Elderly fallers presented inferior gait cadence and a greater fear of falling. Residential risks were determining factors for falls, and were more relevant than intrinsic factors in the evaluation of falls among active community-dwelling elders.

Efeitos de um programa de exercício em grupo na funcionalidade e cognição de idosos da comunidade: um ensaio clínico

“…Após análise, verificaram que por serem ativas não apresentavam significante sarcopenia e que o risco de quedas entre os grupos estava relacionado apenas com fatores extrínsecos, ou seja, a prática de atividade física reduz os riscos de quedas, pois promovem melhora dos fatores intrínsecos. Rossetin et al 2016, observaram um aumento na FPMD dos participantes que realizaram o programa de exercícios físicos. Assim como encontrado no presente estudo, a literatura científica atual aponta uma relação íntima entre a FPMD, o grau de atividade física e o risco de quedas.…”

Handgrip strength and the fear of falling in elderly / Força de preensão palmar em idosos e o medo de cair

“…27 Among the limitations found in this study, it is noteworthy that the participants were healthy elderly with no history of cognitive impairment or severe and limiting physical disability, unlike the population studied in most studies related to fear of falling, whose Most of the groups were institutionalized and / or considerably health-limited elderly. 28 These usually already have an overall decrease in muscle strength, predisposing them to a higher risk of falls. This difference between studies allows us to highlight the importance of our results, performed with healthy elderly.…”

Medo de cair e risco de quedas em idosos assistidos por uma clínica escola de reabilitação

“…A despeito da maioria das pessoas estudadas serem do sexo feminino, não foi encontrada associação entre sexo e pontuação de FES-I, possivelmente, pela interferência do tamanho da amostra na análise desta variável. A grande maioria dos estudos sobre queda, que compreendeu uma amostra maior que 70% do sexo feminino, constatou uma pontuação média da FES-I maior em mulheres do que em homens 17,27 .…”