Association between physical muscle performance, respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity of elderly individuals in the community

• Autor(a) principal: Tiburcio,Renata Helena
• Data de Publicação: 2012
• Outros Autores: Rebelatto,José Rubens, Silva,Karina Rabelo da, Cipriano,Graziella França Bernardelli, Vilaça,Karla Helena Coelho
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://ggaging.com/details/179
• topic: Respiratory muscles, muscle strength, elderly, women.

<p><b>OBJECTIVE:</b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the lower limbs physical performance, respiratory muscle strength, and the functional capacity in healthy elderly in the community.<br> <b>METHODOLOGY:</b> A total of 24 elderly, with an average age of 66.17 ± 4.22 years, were evaluated. A manual grip test was used to evaluate the muscle strength of the superior limbs (SL), and a <i>Short Physical Performance Battery</i> (SPPB) test was used to evaluate the performance of the lower limbs (LL). Maximum respiratory pressure was tested using a manometer; while functional capacity was evaluated using the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT).<br> <b>RESULTS:</b> The BMI was 26.51 ± 5.2 kg/m², the manual grip strength was 23.15 ± 5.57 Kgf, the mean total score of SPPB was 10.58 ± 1.67 points, the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) was 57.29 ± 18.47 cmH₂O, and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) was 74.58 ± 19.11 cmH₂O. The distance covered during the 6MWt was 487.88 ± 88m. There were correlations between the distance covered during the 6MWT, the SPPB (r = 0.43; p <u>&lt;</u> 0.05) and the MIP (r = 0.43; p <u>&lt;</u> 0.05) and also between the SPPB and the MEP (r = 0.51; p <u>&lt;</u> 0.05).<br> <b>CONCLUSION:</b> There was an association between functional capacity, lower limbs physical performance, and respiratory strength in elderly people, suggesting that these muscles should be included in rehabilitation programs for elderly people in order to improve functional capacity.</p>