0000000000016367
AUTHOR
Pertti Era
Muscle strength in male athletes aged 70-81 years and a population sample.
Muscle strength characteristics of different muscle groups were studied in active male strength-trained (ST, n = 14), speed-trained (SP, n = 16), and endurance-trained (EN, n = 67) athletes aged between 70 and 81 years. A population sample of similar age (n = 42) served as a control group. The isometric forces for hand grip, arm flexion, knee extension, trunk extension, and trunk flexion were higher for the athletes than the controls and higher for the ST than EN group. The SP athletes showed higher values in knee extension and trunk flexion than the EN group. When the isometric muscle forces were related to lean body mass, significant differences still existed between the athletes and cont…
Associations of sensory-motor functions with poor mobility in 75- and 80-year-old people
This study investigated the associations of sensory-motor functions with mobility in elderly people. All 75- and 80-year-old residents of the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, were invited to take part in the study. A total of 617 (93 % ) persons were interviewed, and 500 (75%) took part in laboratory examinations. Self-reported mobility was recorded during the interview. Basic mobility functions (maximal walking speed and stairmounting ability) and sensory-motor functions (maximal isometric muscle strength, standing balance, reaction time and visual acuity) were measured in the laboratory. Multivariate analyses showed that poor sensory-motor functions were significantly associated with poor perf…
Bone density of the calcaneus and fractures in 75- and 80-year-old men and women
Bone mineral density of the calcaneus in relation to fractures was studied both retrospectively and prospectively among the 75- and 80-year-old men and women resident in the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, in 1989 and 1990, respectively. The bone measurements were performed at the calcaneus by 125I-photon absorption. Retrospective fracture (RF) history after age 50 was collected by questionnaire and interview, and reported fractures were checked from medical records. In the retrospective study, in the 75-year-olds a fracture was found in 22% (n = 22) of men and in 45% (n = 84) of women. The corresponding figures for the 80-year-olds were 16% (n = 9) and 35% (n = 48). Over half of the fractures …
Contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in maximal walking speed with and without second task in older women
Background. Among older people, distraction while walking may increase the risk of falls. Factors underlying individual differences in dual tasking are not fully understood. Our aim was to study the effect of a second task on maximal walking speed and to examine whether individual differences in walking speed measured with and without a second task are accounted for by genetic and environmental influences shared across tasks or specific to each task. Methods. The data were collected from the 101 monozygotic and 116 dizygotic twin pairs aged 63–76 years recruited from the Finnish Twin Cohort. Maximal walking speed (MWS) over 10 m was measured on a laboratory corridor and timed with photocell…
Postural Balance in a Random Sample of 7,979 Subjects Aged 30 Years and Over
<i>Background:</i> Reliable normative data for force platform measurements of postural balance have not been available. <i>Methods:</i> Data on postural balance were collected from a representative nationwide sample of a Finnish population aged ≧30 years (n = 7,979). As part of a comprehensive health survey <i>(Health 2000)</i>, postural balance was measured with the help of a force platform system in four test conditions: normal standing with eyes open and closed (both for 30 s), semi-tandem (20 s) and tandem stand with eyes open (20 s). In addition, balance abilities were also evaluated by a non-instrumented field test. <i>Results:</i> The m…
Impaired muscle strength in female adolescents and young adults surviving leukemia in childhood
Background. With the improving cure rate in childhood malignancies, increasing interest has been focused on long-term survivors. To evaluate late sequelae of childhood leukemia, the muscle strength of 43 young female survivors was investigated and compared with that of 69 healthy age-matched women. The patients had been off therapy for 1 to 19 years. Methods. The anthropometric characteristics measured were height and weight, and body mass index was calculated. The maximal isometric strengths for elbow flexion, knee extension, and hand grip were measured on a special dynamometer chair. Dynamic muscular endurance was measured by pushup and situp tests. Results. The mean height of the patient…
Retinal light sensitivity of the central visual field among 70- to 81-year-old men and women.
Retinal light sensitivity of the central visual field (0-30 degrees), visual acuity, intraocular pressure and pupillary size were screened in 42 men and 42 women aged 70 to 81 years. The subjects were randomly selected from the population register. After excluding the diagnosed glaucoma cases, the men had better visual field light sensitivity values than the women. They also had lower intraocular pressure and a wider pupillary diameter than the women, whereas there were no differences in visual acuity between the sexes. When the effect of pupillary size was controlled the differences in visual field light sensitivity values between men and women became non-significant. Among these elderly p…
Changes in hearing in 80-year-old people: a 10-year follow-up study
The aims of this prospective 10-year longitudinal population study were to report changes in hearing in people aged 80 years at baseline, and to assess such changes by comparing results from both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The study population comprised all residents of the city of Jyväskylä born in 1910 (n = 291). The subjects' hearing was tested on three occasions at 5-year intervals with the use of pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and self-report on hearing difficulties. The results showed a significant deterioration in hearing sensitivity in both the longitudinal and cross-sectional assessments over the 10-year follow-up. However, the change in self-assessed hear…
Heritability of Intraocular Pressure in Older Female Twins
Purpose To examine the heritability of intraocular pressure (IOP) among older women not diagnosed as having glaucoma. Design Cross-sectional twin study. Participants 94 monozygotic (MZ) and 96 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63–76 years and not diagnosed as having glaucoma. Methods Intraocular pressure was measured using a noncontact tonometer. The contributions of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in IOP were estimated by applying an independent pathway model to twin data. Main Outcome Measures Contribution of genetic and environmental effects to the variation in IOP among MZ and DZ twins. Results Mean IOP of the study population was 14.1 mmHg (± standard de…
Reaction and Movement Times in Men of Different Ages: A Population Study
Tests of psychomotor and motor speed at different levels of complexity were studied in random samples of men aged 31 to 35, 51 to 55, and 71 to 75 yr. The study was performed as a part of a larger research project on health and functional aging. Analyses indicated significantly slower responses among older men at all levels of test complexity (maximal knee extension velocity, tapping rate, simple and choice reaction and movement times). There were marked differences both between the youngest and the middle-aged groups and between the middle-aged and the oldest groups. Within the age groups high psychomotor and motor speed were associated with a favourable functioning of certain senses (vib…
Multidimensional health assessment of 75- and 80-year-old men and women: a five-year prospective study.
Background and aims: There are no earlier reports of regular multidimensional health check programs in elderly people. The aim of this study was to establish the number and type of previously unrecognized health conditions in two cohorts of elderly people examined twice during a 5-year period, and to determine how these conditions were subsequently evaluated and treated. Methods: This population-based study, carried out at a university research center in Finland, consisted of a multidimensional and multiphased health assessment including interviews, health questionnaires and medical examinations and tests, and follow-up of subsequent examinations and treatment. Participants were all 75- (N=…
Changes in Postural Balance in Frail Elderly Women during a 4-Week Visual Feedback Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial
<i>Background:</i> Balance training programs have not shown consistent results among older adults, and it remains unclear how different training methods can be adapted to frail elderly people. <i>Objective: </i>The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week visual feedback-based balance training on the postural control of frail elderly women living in residential care homes. <i>Methods:</i> Elderly women of two residential care facilities were randomized to an exercise group (EG, n = 20) and to a control group (CG, n = 7). The EG participated in training sessions three times/week for 4 weeks. The exercises were carried out with a com…
Factors related to coping with physical and instrumental activities of daily living among people born in 1904-1923
Functional ability is affected by a number of different factors, including biological ageing, illness, and living environment. This study was concerned with the connections of functional ability with mood and cognitive capacity in elderly individuals. It forms part of a cross-sectional study which was carried out in 1988, involving two random samples of 800 non-institutionalized persons born in 1904–1913 and 1914–1923. Functional ability tests included 18 questions; eight concerned coping with physical activities of daily living (PADL) and 10 instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Depressive symptoms and cognitive capacity were examined by tests. In addition, there was a set of que…
Postural balance and health-related factors in middle-aged and older women with injurious falls and non-fallers.
Background and aims: Older jailers aged over 70 years have shown impaired balance abilities, but it is unclear if impairment in balance control can be detected among jallers who are in their 50’s and 60’s. The aim oj this study was to analyze possible differences in balance control and other health-related factors between female fallers and nonfallers aged 50–68 years. Methods: Women 50–68 years of age (N=40) who had fallen outside and needed medical attention were recruited through a larger fall accident study. Non-fallers (N=97) were women representing the same age group who had not fallen during the preceding 12 months. A battery of standing force platform balance tests were administered…
Myopia, use of eyes, and living habits among men aged 33-37 years
As a part of a more extensive research project on health and functional capacity among a representative sample of men, the living habits and backgrounds of myopic men between 33 and 37 years of age living in the town of Jyväskylä were studied in comparison with non-myopic men of the same age. The prevalence of a negative spheric equivalent, which was considered as a criterion of myopia, was 25%. It was found that the myopic, on the average, had been more interested in reading from childhood onwards, their educational and occupational status were higher, and their body structure was lighter. As children they had taken less physical exercise, but as adults no difference was found in physical …
Cardiac adverse effects and acute exercise in elderly subjects
Cardiac arrhythmias, ST segment depressions and other cardiac adverse effects are occasionally seen in relation to physical exercise in elderly people. However, the magnitude, quality, and time-dependence of these events need to be clarified. During voluntary maximal cycle ergometer exercise (CEE), immediate cardiac disturbances as a reason for exercise termination were registered in a sample of 75-year-old men and women (N=203) (population group, PG). Any referrals to hospital following cardiac incidents within 24 hours post-CEE were obtained from patient records. Ambulatory ECG was recorded 24 hours before and after CEE in 23 elderly subjects (12 men, 11 women) capable of maximal effort (…
The predictive value of exercise testing for survival among 75-year-old men and women
All 75-year-olds born in 1914 and living in the city of Jyväskylä, central Finland (n=388) were invited to study the predictive value of exercise test for mortality. Subjects who entered the laboratory (n=295) were to have a standard pre-test evaluation and perform a cycle ergometer exercise test. Subjects with complete background, exercise-test status and mortality data (n=282) were divided into three groups according to exercise-test status: a non-exercise test group (n=79), an exercise-test termination group (n=95), and an exercise-test completion group (n=108). Mortality was followed up for 9 years. The multivariate hazard ratio (HR) for death among the non-exercise test group compared …
Brain Slow Potentials and Postural Sway Behavior During Sharpshooting Performance.
In the present study, the relation of preparatory brain slow potentials (SPs) to postural body sway during sharpshooting performance was examined. SPs from frontal, left-central, and right-central areas were recorded from 6 elite and 6 non-elite sharpshooters during a realistic simulated shooting task. A force platform technique was used in the recording of postural sway. The results showed that body sway, as indexed by sway amplitude and mean velocity, was associated with the concomitant SP changes. That relationship was dependent on the shooter's expertise level, however. The main finding among the elite shooters was that the reduced amplitude of body sway coincided with reduced frontal p…
Sleep-Related Factors and Mobility in Older Men and Women
SHORT and long sleep duration, sleep-related disturbances, and their daytime consequences are common in older adults, and they are associated with decreased health and increased mortality (1–4). Because aging is associated with decline in physical performance often leading to physical disability and loss of independence, concomitant sleep problems may exacerbate the age-related decline in physical function. Previous studies suggest that self-reported and measured insomnia and sleep-related problems are associated with decline in psychomotor performance (5) as well as with poor balance and increased risk of falls (6–8). In addition, Goldman and coworkers (2007) (9) reported that short (<6 ho…
Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms in Older People
Fatigue is considered an important indicator of aging-related declines in health and functional abilities. Previous studies have indicated strong associations between fatigue and depressive symptoms among younger populations and in patient groups with specific diseases. However, it is not known how different measures of fatigue are associated with depressive symptoms among general older populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults reporting mobility-related or general feelings fatigue. The study population consisted of 75-year-old community-living individuals ( n = 561). Both, mobility-related and general …
Some physiological and psychological characteristics of myopic and non-myopic young men.
As a part of a research project on the health and functional capacity of men at different ages a comparison of selected physiological and psychological characteristics of myopic and non-myopic 31–35 year-old men was made. The random sample studied consisted of 31 myopic and 100 non-myopic men. It was found that the body mass index and fat content were lower among the myopic than among the non-myopic. No significant differences were found in the elastic properties of skin, in blood pressure or in haematological assays studied between the groups. With respect to physical performance it was observed that the myopic had a higher aerobic capacity whereas there were no significant differences in …
Sensitivity of the central visual field in 70- to 81-year-old male athletes and in a population sample.
The sensitivity of the central visual field (0°–30°) was studied using an automatic Octopus 500E perimeter in elderly male athletes and in a population sample of men of corresponding age. The athletes (N=96) were endurance and power athletes, who were still active in competitive sports with training histories spanning tens of years. The athletes’ results were compared with those of a sample of men of the same age (70–81 years, N=41) randomly selected from the local population register. The sensitivity values of the athletes, and the endurance athletes in particular, were significantly better than those of the controls, with differences varying from 1 to 2.5 dB in the different areas of the …
Psychomotor and Motor Speed in Power Athletes Self-Administering Testosterone and Anabolic Steroids
Abstract The effect of self-administered testosterone and anabolic steroids on psychomotor and motor speed were studied among five top-level power athletes. The experiment included a 26-week intensive strength training period in association with the use of exogenous hormones and a 6-week follow-up after drug withdrawal. Six athletes not using exogenous hormones served as a control group. The results indicated a similar, and in most cases insignificant, improvement (0–10%) in performance in both groups in both the simple and more complicated motor and psychomotor tests. Only in maximal vertical speed related to body weight was there more improvement in the experimental group, from 122.2 to 1…
Psychometric evaluation of the Finnish version of the impact on participation and autonomy questionnaire in persons with multiple sclerosis
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the impact on participation and autonomy (IPA) questionnaire. The Finnish version of IPA (IPAFin) was translated into Finnish using the protocol for linguistic validation for patient-reported outcomes instruments. Methods: A total of 194 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) (mean age 50 years SD 9, 72% female) with moderate to severe disability participated in this study. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the four factor structure of the IPAFin. The work and educational opportunities domain was excluded from analysis, because it was only applicable to 51 persons. Internal consistency…
Effect of bicycle ergometer test on intraocular pressure in elderly athletes and controls.
To evaluate the effect of intensive physical exercise on intraocular pressure (IOP) in 66- to 85-year-old subjects IOP was measured before and after a maximal bicycle ergometer test. The non-glaucomatous subjects comprised 85 males and 36 female athletes and 16 male and 22 female controls of corresponding age drawn from a population register. IOP was measured using a non-contact tonometer. The results indicated a decrease (> or = 2 mmHg) in 34% of the subjects, no change in 57% and an increase in 9%. The decrease was more pronounced in subjects with higher pre-test values. In all four subjects with a pre-test value above 22 mmHg a reduction from 4 to 11 mmHg was observed. The change in IOP …
Predictors of Participation and Autonomy in People With Multiple Sclerosis.
Abstract Importance: Because multiple sclerosis (MS) affects many life areas, it is important to know how participation and autonomy are associated with the perceived impact of MS on everyday life. Objective: To investigate how perceived quality of life, disease impact, gender, and disease severity predict participation and autonomy in people with MS. Design: Cross-sectional study in which structural equation modeling was used to evaluate relationships between measured variables. Settings: Outpatient clinics in three areas and one inpatient rehabilitation center in Finland. Participants: Convenience sample of 194 people with MS. Outcomes and Measures: Participants completed the Impact on Pa…
Contribution of genetic and environmental effects to postural balance in older female twins
The aim of the present study was to determine the relative roles of genetic and environmental influences on postural balance in older women. The participants were 97 monozygotic (MZ) and 102 dizygotic (DZ) female twins, aged 64–76 yr. Postural sway was measured during side-by-side stance with eyes open and eyes closed, and during semitandem stance with eyes open on a force platform. Sway data were condensed into four first-order and one second-order latent factors. The second-order factor, named balance, incorporates sway data from multiple tests and thus best describes the phenotype of postural balance. The contribution of genetic and environmental influences on the variability of the lat…
Intraocular pressure in samples of elderly Finnish and Swedish men and women.
Abstract Intraocular pressure was measured in 231 systematically sampled 75-year-old men and women in Goteborg, Sweden and in 284 75-year-old and 201 80-year-old residents in Jyvaskyla, Finland as part of a comparative study on functional capacity and health, NORA 75 (Nordic Research on Ageing). After excluding the cases reporting glaucoma in their medical history or using drugs for glaucoma treatment there were no significant differences in the distributions of intraocular pressure between the men (mean intraocular pressure in the right eye 15.1 mmHg, left eye 15.0 mmHg) and women (mean intraocular pressure in the right eye 15.5 mmHg, left eye 15.8 mmHg) in Goteborg. In Jyvaskyla the 75-ye…
Lowered vision as a risk factor for injurious accidents in older people
Poor vision in older people is often related to increased fall risk. However, the association of the severity between visual deficit and risk for all kind of injurious accidents has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to examine whether visual loss is associated with higher incidence of injurious accidents and whether walking speed or physical activity play a mediating role in the association.416 persons aged 75 and 80 years at baseline underwent visual acuity measurements. Visual acuity (VA)0.3 in the better eye, with spectacle correction when necessary, was defined as visual impairment, VAor=0.3 butor=0.5 as lowered vision, and VA0.5 as normal VA. Hospital records of accide…
Fall incidence in frail older women after individualized visual feedback-based balance training.
<i>Background:</i> The knowledge concerning balance training actually lowering fall rates among frail older persons is limited. <i>Objective:</i> The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week individualized visual feedback-based balance training on the fall incidence during 1-year follow-up among frail older women living in residential care. <i>Methods:</i> Twenty-seven older women from 2 residential care homes were randomized into exercise (n = 20) and control (n = 7) groups. Balance measurements were carried out before and after a 4-week training period and falls were monitored by monthly diaries for 1 year. An interview about fear of fal…
Pure-Tone Thresholds, Speech Understanding, and Their Correlates in Samples of Men of Different Ages1
Pure-tone thresholds and speech understanding were studied in three samples of men of different ages (31-35, 51-55 and 71-75 years). The air-conducted pure-tone thresholds were measured at 125-8,000 Hz and speech understanding by the help of interrupted and masked speech tests. The audiological measures were related to measures of other sensory functions, psychomotor speed, cognitive functions, psychic well-being, occupational and educational background and health. The results indicated a clear decrement in all audiological measures when proceeding from younger to older age groups. The results of the speech-understanding tests correlated significantly with the pure-tone thresholds both at 4…
Force Platform Balance Measures as Predictors of Indoor and Outdoor Falls in Community-Dwelling Women Aged 63-76 Years
Background. Inability to maintain balance while standing increases risk of falls in older people. The present study assessed whether center of pressure (COP) movement measured with force platform technology predicts risk for falls among older people with no manifest deficiency in standing balance. Methods. Participants were 434 community-dwelling women, aged 63-76 years. COP was measured in six stances on a force platform. Following balance tests, participants reported their falls with 12 monthly calendars. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed from negative binomial regression models. For the analysis, those with>/=1 fall indoors were coded"indoor fal…
Item bias in self-reported functional ability among 75-year-old men and women in three Nordic localities.
The purpose of this article is to analyse item bias in a measure of self-reported functional ability among 75-year-old people in three Nordic localities. The present item bias analysis examines whether the construction of a functional ability index from several variables results in bias in relation to geographical locality and gender. Information about self-reported functional ability was gathered from surveys on 75-year-old men and women in Glostrup (Denmark), Göteborg (Sweden) and Jyväskylä (Finland). The data were collected by structured home interviews about mobility and Physical activities of daily living (PADL) in relation to tiredness, reduced speed and dependency and combined into …
Mobility-Related Fatigue, Walking Speed, and Muscle Strength in Older People
Background. Fatigue is an important early marker of functional decline among older people, but the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between mobility-related fatigue and walking speed and to test the degree to which muscle strength accounts for this association. Methods. The study is based on baseline (n = 523) and 5-year follow-up data (n = 292) from a cohort of 75-year-old persons. Standardized assessments include self-report measures of mobility-related fatigue (score range 0–6) and medical history, as well as performance-based assessment of walking speed and maximal isometric strength of knee …
Self-reported sleep duration and cognitive functioning in the general population
This study investigated the relationship between self-reported sleep factors (sleep duration, insomnia, use of sleeping medicine, probable sleep apnoea and feelings of fatigue and tiredness) with cognitive functioning in 5177 people aged 30 years or older from a cross-sectional representative sample of the adult population in Finland (The Finnish Health 2000 Survey). Previous studies have indicated a U-shaped association between increased health risks and sleep duration; we hypothesized a U-shaped association between sleep duration and cognitive functioning. Objective cognitive functioning was assessed with tasks derived from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease te…
Psychomotor speed in a random sample of 7,979 subjects aged 30 years and over.
Background and aims: Slowing of psychomotor speed among older individuals has been shown in numerous studies. However, in most cases these studies were based on small and selected groups of people and, in some cases, the test procedures did not allow separation of decision time and motor components of the overall performance. The purpose of the present study was to analyse in a large, randomly selected population sample the differences in decision and movement times in simple and multiple-choice test conditions. The association of educational background with psychomotor speed was also examined. Methods: Data on psychomotor speed were collected from a representative nation-wide sample of the…
Determinants of isometric muscle strength in men of different ages
Values of maximal isometric strength of five muscle groups and associated factors including occupational status, life style and health were studied in three groups of men aged from 31 to 35, 51 to 55, and 71 to 75 years. The results indicated significant differences between the age groups in isometric handgrip, elbow flexion, knee extension, trunk extension and trunk flexion strength. In the youngest group, the manual workers tended to have higher strength values in all muscle groups than the lower and higher status white collar workers, whereas among the middle-aged and oldest men the manual workers tended to have the poorest performance. Good self-rated health and the intensity of physica…
Self-reported Reasons for Changes in Performance of Everyday Activities During a 2-Year Multidisciplinary Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation
Background: Few multidisciplinary rehabilitation studies with a heterogeneous design have focused on people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study compared subjective-reported changes in performance and satisfaction with daily activities among moderately and severely disabled people with MS during a 2-year, multidisciplinary, group-based, outpatient rehabilitation program comprising education in self-management and compensatory techniques, exercise, and guided peer support. Methods: Thirty-eight adults with moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score of 4.0–5.5, 74% women, mean age of 48 years) and 41 persons with severe disability (EDSS 6.0–8.5, 63% women, mean age…
Effects of strength and endurance training on isometric muscle strength and walking speed in elderly women
The separate effects of 18 weeks of intensive strength and endurance training on isometric knee extension (KE) and flexion (KF) strength and walking speed were studied in 76- to 78- year-old women. Maximal voluntary isometric force for both KE and KF was measured in a sitting position on a custom-made dynamometer chair at a knee angle of 60 degrees from full extension. Maximal walking speed was measured over a distance of 10 m. The endurance-trained women increased KE torque and KE torque/body mass after the first 9 weeks of training when compared with the controls. when comparing the baseline, 9 week and 18 week measurements within the groups separately, both the endurance- and strength-tr…
Hearing among 75-year-old people in three Nordic localities: A comparative study
The aim of this study was to compare auditory functions and to analyse the prevalence of hearing impairment and the relationship of self-reported hearing disability with audiometric test results among 75-year-old people in three Nordic localities. The representative samples came from Glostrup, Denmark (n = 571), Goteborg, Sweden (n =450), and Jyvaskyla, Finland (n =388). The median pure-tone thresholds were rather similar in all three populations. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment varied between 26% and 34% in men, and between 17% and 23% in women. The corresponding figures in the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulties were 41%-57%, and 28%-37%. The self-reported diffi…
The effect of conventional movement training and trampoline training on balance and gait in chronic hemiplegic patients
The postural sway of subjects during standing both with their eyes open and closed together with maximum velocity of walking were analysed in six male chronic hemiplegic patients before, during and after an intensive movement training programme lasting 8 weeks. The movement training programme was carried out on the basis of Bobath's principles. Three of the subjects carried out their training on a trampoline, with the particular purpose of enhancing the stimulation of the mechanisms responsible for the control of balance. During the follow-up, maximal walking velocity remained at previous levels and no systematic changes were observed in the control of postural sway. Although the use of the…
Maximal isometric strength and mobility among 75-year-old men and women.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between maximal isometric strength and mobility among 75-year-old men and women. All those born in 1914 and resident in the city of Jyvaskyla in August 1989 comprised the study group (n = 388); 355 persons were interviewed at their homes (92%): 101 men (81% of all male residents) and 186 women (75%) participated in the laboratory strength tests. As part of the home interview the person's mobility at home, on stairs and outdoors was assessed using a four-point scale:--1 able, 2--able with difficulty, 3--needs help, 4--unable. Poor mobility was more common among the drop-outs than among the strength-tested subjects in both sexes. Maxima…
Visual Acuity and Mortality in Older People and Factors on the Pathway
To examine vision as a predictor of mortality in older people and the role of mobility, depressed mood, chronic diseases, body mass index, physical activity and injurious accidents in this possible association.223 persons aged 75 and 193 persons aged 80 years at the baseline participated in visual acuity measurements. Visual acuity (VA) of0.3 in the better eye was defined as visual impairment, VA ofor = 0.3 butor = 0.5 as lowered vision and VA0.5 as normal VA. Death dates were received from the official register. Cox regression models were used to determine the relative risks of mortality and to study what factors lie on the pathway from poor vision to mortality.Over the 10-year follow-up, …
Genetic and environmental influences on hearing in older women.
Background. This study examined the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the air-conducted hearing threshold level (0.5‐4 kHz) and speech recognition threshold level of the better ear as well as self-reported hearing in older women. Methods. Hearing was measured as a part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging in 103 monozygotic (MZ) and 114 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63‐76 years. Audiometric measured hearing was tested using standardized methods in soundproof conditions. Self-reported hearing was assessed by a structured question. Quantitative genetic modeling was used for data analyses. Results. No significant differences in age, exposure to noise, hearing-…
Correlates of vibrotactile thresholds in men of different ages
— As a part of a larger gerontological research project vibrotactile thresholds on the inner malleolus of the ankle were studied in 355 men aged 31–35, 51–55 and 71–75 years. The groups studied were random samples of men living in the town of Jyvaskyla in Finland in the year 1981. The thresholds were assessed at three frequencies: 50 Hz, 100 Hz and 250 Hz. The thresholds were associated with age at all frequencies, the means of the threshold values being significantly higher in the older age groups. Within the age groups the thresholds correlated positively with height. In addition, reaction and movement time, leg extension velocity, and postural sway were associated with the thresholds. Ne…
Psychomotor slowness is associated with self-reported sleep duration among the general population
Short and long self‐reported sleep durations have been found to be associated with several seemingly disparate health risks and impaired functional abilities, including cognitive functioning. The role of long sleep is especially poorly understood in this context. Psychomotor slowness, shown to have analogous associations with cognitive performance and health risks as self‐reported long sleep duration, has not been studied together with sleep duration in epidemiological settings. We hypothesized that self‐reported habitual sleep duration, especially long sleep, is associated with slow psychomotor reaction time, and that this association is independent of vigilance‐related factors. The hypoth…
Nordic Comparison of 75-Year-Olds - Sensory and Psychomotor Functions
Sensory and psychomotor functions were studied among 75-year-old men and women in three Nordic localities (Glostrup in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden, and Jyvaskyla in Finland) as part of a comparative study on functional capacity and health. Random samples were drawn from the population registers in Glostrup (n=550) and Gothenburg (n=450), whereas in Jyvaskyla all 75-year-old residents (n=388) were invited to participate in the study. Participation rates varied from 66.8% in Gothenburg to 79.1% in Jyvaskyla. Sensory functions studied included hearing (pure-tone thresholds at 125-8000 Hz), vision (visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure), balance (postural sway), and tactual sensitiv…
Postural balance and its sensory-motor correlates in 75-year-old men and women: a cross-national comparative study.
Background. There are no earlier cross-national comparative studies analyzing the functioning of the posture control mechanisms and its sensory-motor correlates in elderly subjects. We investigated whether there are differences in balance between elderly subjects living in different geographical areas, and analyzed the sensory-motor associates of balance in men and women separately. Method. Using a force platform method, the functioning of the posture control system under three standardized conditions (normal standing, eyes open; normal standing, eyes closed; and tandem standing, eyes open) was studied among samples of 75-year-old residents in three Nordic localities, namely Glostrup in Den…
Maximal isometric muscle strength and anthropometry in 75-year-old men and women in three Nordic localities
Isometric maximal strength of hand grip, elbow flexion, knee extension, trunk extension and trunk flexion was studied in representative samples of 75-year-old residents of 3 Nordic localities: Glostrup in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Jyvaskyla in Finland. The study forms a part of a wider comparative research project analyzing the functional capacity and health of 75-year-olds in these towns. The strength measurements were carried out using standardized techniques and identical dynamometers. The results showed that the strength values of the limb muscles were significantly lower among the 75-year-olds in Jyvaskyla, both in absolute values and in relative units (N/kg body mass). For the…
Genetic Factors and Susceptibility to Falls in Older Women
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether genetic influences account for individual differences in susceptibility to falls in older women. DESIGN: Prospective twin cohort study. SETTING: Research laboratory and residential environment. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine monozygotic (MZ) and 114 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs aged 63 to 76 from the Finnish Twin Cohort study. MEASUREMENTS: The participants recorded their falls on a calendar for an average+/-standard deviation of 344+/-41 days. Reported falls were verified via telephone interview, and circumstances, causes, and consequences of the fall were asked about. RESULTS: The total number of falls was 434, of which 188 were injurious; 91 participants h…
Genetic and environmental contribution to postural balance of older women in single and dual task situations
Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a second task on postural balance and to determine the role of genetic influences on postural balance when dual tasking among 206 monozygotic and 227 dizygotic female twins, aged 63–76 years. Balance was measured as medio-lateral and antero-posterior velocity of the centre of pressure (COP) (mm/s) and velocity moment (mm2/s) while standing on a force platform. Doing an arithmetic task increased movement of the COP while the hand motor task had no effect on movement of the COP. The genetic contribution to balance in the single task situation was minor (14%, 95% confidence interval, CI: 11–35%) whereas in the dual task sit…
Physical Activity and the Changes in Maximal Isometric Strength in Men and Women from the Age of 75 to 80 Years
OBJECTIVE: To research the natural changes in maximal isometric strength, over a period of 5 years, in men and women aged 75 at baseline, and to study the effect of everyday physical activity on strength alterations. DESIGN: A 5-year longitudinal study. SETTING: Exercise laboratory PARTICIPANTS: The target group in 1989 was the total 75-year-old population of Jyvaskyla. One hundred one men (81%) and 186 women (75%) participated in baseline strength tests, and after 5 years, 55 men and 111 women (70% and 72% of the survivors) took part in the follow-up measurements. METHODS: Maximal isometric hand grip, arm flexion, knee extension, trunk flexion, and trunk extension forces were measured usin…
Relationships Between Standing Balance and Symmetry Measurements in Patients Following Recent Strokes (≤3 Weeks) or Older Strokes (≥6 Months)
Abstract Background and Purpose. The Functional Standing Balance (FSB) Scale was designed to obtain measurements of standing balance and to identify the problems typically faced by people with stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of measurements obtained with the FSB Scale for use in the acute and chronic phases of stroke by comparing the measurements obtained with the FSB Scale with those obtained for postural sway and lateral symmetry by use of a force platform. Subjects and Methods. Measurements were obtained for 26 people with recent strokes (ie, strokes within 3 weeks of data collection) and for 28 people with long-standing strokes (ie, strokes of 6 months'…
Factors related to carrying out everyday activities among elderly people aged 80
The study was based on an epidemiological model in which performing activities of daily living (ADL) was the dependent variable. Variation in performing was explained by physical and mental health, and by physical performance. The population consisted of all 80-year-old residents (N = 291) of the city of Jyväskylä in central Finland; 90% of them agreed to take part in the interviews at home, while 72% took part in the laboratory examinations to determine health status and functional capacity. Difficulties in at least some PADL (Physical Activities of Daily Living) tasks were reported by 86.5% of the men, and 87.2% of the women; none said they could perform all IADL (Instrumental Activities …
Postural Sway During Standing and Unexpected Disturbance of Balance in Random Samples of Men of Different Ages
Postural sway behavior while standing and during and after an unexpected disturbance of balance was examined in men aged 31 to 35, 51 to 55, and 71 to 75 years. The groups studied were random samples of men living in the town of Jyväskylä in 1981. Postural sway while standing was more pronounced in the older age groups, whereas after a disturbance of balance postural sway was nearly the same in all age groups. The functioning of the postural control system was correlated with the vibratory threshold on the ankles, grip strength, as well as with aerobic and anaerobic capacity within the age groups. Further, in the youngest age group the functioning of the postural control system was poorer a…
Mobility performance and its sensory, psychomotor and musculoskeletal determinants from age 75 to age 80.
Background and aims: Prospective studies on the simultaneous effects of multiple determinants on objectively assessed mobility are few. The aim of this study was to analyse mobility performance, its stability and sensory, psychomotor and musculoskeletal determinants in an older population from age 75 to age 80. Methods: Sixty-three men and 121 women aged 75 participated at baseline and, five years later, in the follow-up phase of this population-based prospective study. Maximal walking speed and step-mounting height were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Maximal isometric knee extension strength, standing balance on force platform, reaction time, visual acuity and limitations in range of …
Quality of life (QOL) of older adult community choral singers in Finland.
ABSTRACTBackground: Enhancing quality of life (QOL) of older adults is an international area of focus. Identifying factors and experiences that contribute to QOL of older adults helps promote optimal levels of functioning. This study examines the relationship between perceived benefits associated with choral singing and QOL among community-dwelling older adults.Methods: One hundred seventeen older adults who sing in community choirs in Jyväskylä, Finland, completed self-report measures of QOL (WHOQOL-Bref), depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about the benefits of singing in choir. Correlational analyses and linear regression models were used to examine the association between the bene…