Power During Functional Tasks in Older Adults

Power During Functional Tasks in Older Adults: Reliability, Reference Values and Relationship With Other Outcome Measurements Related to Sarcopenia

The primary aim of this study is to optimize the methodology to measure lower limb power in older adults, so that clinicians are able to detect functional problems in this population earlier.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Muscle function test

Detailed Description

Aging is associated with slower movement patterns, a higher fall risk and a restriction in functionality. This will lead to an increase in the number of dependent elderly and a high socio-economic burden. From the age of 40, a systematic loss of muscle mass and muscle force, also known as sarcopenia, will occur. In addition, performing daily tasks requires the production of muscle force at a certain speed. The product of force and speed, power, decreases even earlier and faster than muscle force.

This power is typically measured with specialized equipment, which limits the large-scale applicability. With the help of accelerometry there is the possibility to measure power during more functional tasks and movements, which benefits the applicability, but the reliability, reference values and link with other outcome measurements related to sarcopenia has to be investigated.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 284

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Vlaams-Brabant
    • Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, 3000
      • KU Leuven - Department of Movement Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy young to older adults

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >20

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable cardiovascular diseases
• Fever or acute infection
• Cognitive or physical malfunctioning that hinders the understanding or performance of tests and/or instructions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Older adults; Older adults aged >65 years	Diagnostic test: Muscle function test; Body measurements, power and strength tests of the knee extensor muscle, handgrip strength, functional capacity tests, objective measurement of physical activity (subgroup of older adults, n=50)
Young group; Younger adults between the age of 20 and 40 years	Diagnostic test: Muscle function test; Body measurements, power and strength tests of the knee extensor muscle, handgrip strength, functional capacity tests, objective measurement of physical activity (subgroup of older adults, n=50)
Middle-aged group 1; Adults between the age of 40 and 55 years	Diagnostic test: Muscle function test; Body measurements, power and strength tests of the knee extensor muscle, handgrip strength, functional capacity tests, objective measurement of physical activity (subgroup of older adults, n=50)
Middle-aged group 2; Adults between the age of 55 and 65 years	Diagnostic test: Muscle function test; Body measurements, power and strength tests of the knee extensor muscle, handgrip strength, functional capacity tests, objective measurement of physical activity (subgroup of older adults, n=50)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lower limb muscle power during a stair climb test	The power (watt) needed to perform stair climbing is calculated using a 3D accelerometer (DynaPort MoveTest, McRoberts), worn at the back of the participant	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Lower limb muscle power during a sit-to-stand test	The power (watt) needed to perform 5 sit-to-stand transitions and a 30 sec. sit-to-stand test is calculated using a 3D accelerometer (DynaPort MoveTest, McRoberts), worn at the back of the participant	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Reliability of power measurements measured with a 3D accelerometer	Reliability of power measurements (watt) measured with a 3D accelerometer (DynaPort MoveTest, McRoberts) worn during functional activities (stair climbing, sit-to-stand test) three times within a period of 2 weeks	1 test moment of approximately 30 minutes, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Rate of power (force-velocity) development	Participants perform a test protocol on a Biodex Dynamometer. The rate of power development (watt/s) is defined as the linear slope of the power-time curve and is measured from the onset of movement till peak power.	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Handgrip strength	Handgrip strength (kg) evaluated with a Jamar dynamometer	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Jumping height	Jumping height (in cm) measured during a standardized jump test	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Physical activity	Objective measurement of physical activity in a subgroup of older participants (n=50) by means of accelerometry	1 week
Number of steps/stairs a day	Objective measurement of physical activity in a subgroup of older participants (n=50) by means of accelerometry	1 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of repetitions during a 30s sit-to-stand test	Number of complete sit-to-stand transitions in 30 sec.	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
6min walk distance	The walk distance (in m) covered in 6 min.	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Balance	Number of seconds a participant can hold a tandem stand, a semi-tandem stand or with the feet together	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Maximal gait speed	The average speed to walk 3m as fast as possible (in m/s)	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Usual gait speed	The average speed to walk 4m at a usual pace (in m/s)	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Maximal isometric strength	Maximal strength (Nm) is measured by means of unilateral isometric knee-extensor tests on a Biodex Dynamometer	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020
Maximal isokinetic strength	Maximal strength (Nm) is measured by means of unilateral isokinetic knee-extensor tests on a Biodex Dynamometer	1 test moment of approximately 1 hour, planned between September 2019 and July 2020

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 20, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 12, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Muscle Power; Functional capacity
• Other Study ID Numbers: S62540

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No