Association between sleep problems and functional disability in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Sleep problems are frequently observed in older adults. They can lead to changes in the individual's physical, occupational, cognitive, and social functioning, compromising the performance of activities of daily living and contributing to the occurrence of functional disability. This study evaluated the association between sleep problems and functional disability in community-dwelling older adults.

Association between sleep problems and multimorbidity patterns in older adults.

Background: Sleep problems are frequent in older adults and are associated with chronic diseases. However, the association with multimorbidity patterns is still unknown. Considering the negative impacts that multimorbidity patterns can have on older adults' life, knowledge of this association can help in the screening and early identification of older adults with sleep problems.

Are history of falls and fear of falling associated with mobility in community-dwelling older adults?

Evidence has suggested that a history of falls and fear of falling (FOF) are associated with reduced mobility among older adults. Although many studies have explored the association between the history of falls and FOF in the context of decreased mobility, most have had small sample sizes, limiting the generalizability of the results. Therefore, this study sought to contribute to the body of knowledge around these constructs to further support the previous findings.

A nationwide study on pain manifestations and sleep problems in community-dwelling older adults: findings from ELSI-Brazil.

Purpose: Sleep problems are common and affect approximately 36-70% of older adults worldwide and can be associated with negative outcomes such as pain. There is believed to be a bidirectional relationship between sleep problems and pain, modulated by inflammation and stress. The objective was to investigate the association between self-reported sleep problems and pain manifestations.

Nationwide handgrip strength values and factors associated with muscle weakness in older adults: findings from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil).

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple, quick, inexpensive, and highly reliable method for the assessment of muscle strength in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. This study aimed at describing the HGS values by age group and sex in Brazilians aged 50 years and over, determining age group- and sex-specific cutoff points for muscle weakness, and investigating sociodemographic and anthropometric variables associated with muscle weakness for each sex.

Methods: Data from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) were analyzed.

Examining the factors associated with functional capacity of community-dwelling older adults using the ICF framework: a cross-sectional study from the Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults Study (FIBRA).

Background: There are many factors associated with functioning and disability in older adults and these relationships are not clear.

Objective: To explore the factors associated with functional capacity of older adults using the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a dataset from a survey of 1 377 community-dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years) in a middle-income country.

Are multimorbidity patterns associated with fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults?

Background: Multimorbidity is defined as the co-occurrence of multiple chronic or acute diseases and medical conditions in the same individual and can be grouped into different patterns based on the type of disease. These patterns are associated with poorer quality of life and premature death. It is believed that these patterns entail functional limitations, which may contribute to the fear of falling; however, this association remains unknown.

Individual characteristics, perceived neighborhood, and walking for transportation among older Brazilian people residing in a large urban area.

This study aimed to investigate the association of individual and environmental characteristics with walking for transportation among older Brazilian people living in a large urban area. Data from 825 participants (≥ 60 years) from a multistage household survey in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were used. Walking for transportation was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

A multidimensional approach to frailty compared with physical phenotype in older Brazilian adults: data from the FIBRA-BR study.

Background: Frailty is a predictor of negative health outcomes in older adults. The physical frailty phenotype is an often used form for its operationalization. Some authors have pointed out limitations regarding the unidimensionality of the physical phenotype, introducing other dimensions in the approach to frailty.

Perceived neighborhood and fall history among community-dwelling older adults living in a large Brazilian urban area: a multilevel approach.

Few studies have examined the neighborhood features related to falls in the older population in low-and-middle-income countries, including Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate if perceived neighborhood features are related to falls among older Brazilian adults living in a large urban area. This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 834 participants (≥60 years) from a multistage household survey in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Independent and combined effect of home-based progressive resistance training and nutritional supplementation on muscle strength, muscle mass and physical function in dynapenic older adults with low protein intake: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: With the aging phenomenon, there is growing interest in developing effective strategies to counteract dynapenia, the age-related loss of muscle strength. The positive effect of progressive resistance training on muscle strength is well known, however, the effect of nutritional supplementation or its synergistic effect along with exercise on muscle strength is not a consensus in the literature, especially in populations with low protein intake.

Methods: We analyzed the muscle strength (handgrip strength and sit-to-stand test), muscle mass, body mass index, insulin resistance, and physical function (gait speed, timed up & go test, and single-leg-stance test) of 69 dynapenic older adults with low protein intake, before and after the intervention period of three months.

Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of the Functional Gait Assessment in older Brazilian adults.

Background: The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a standardized instrument for assessing postural stability during various walking tasks. It was developed to increase the reliability and to decrease the potential ceiling effect observed with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI).

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the FGA into Portuguese-Brazilian, and to evaluate its reliability in community-dwelling Brazilian older adults.

The slowing down phenomenon: What is the age of major gait velocity decline?

Decreased gait velocity is associated with limited mobility, community participation, cognitive decline, and increased risk of falls in elderly women. Therefore, early detection of reduced gait velocity allows proper monitoring and treatment to prevent or delay the associated limitations. This study determined the age of major gait velocity decline in a large sample of women.

Analysis of symmetry between lower limbs during gait of older women with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in older adults, with high epidemiological, clinical, and economic burden worldwide. In clinical practice, patients with knee OA often walk with abnormal gait patterns because of pain, stiffness and/or mobility dysfunctions. Therefore, assessing the symmetry of the lower limbs might improve the rehabilitation treatment and prescription of walking devices.

Influence of Passive Joint Stiffness on Proprioceptive Acuity in Individuals With Functional Instability of the Ankle.

Study Design Controlled laboratory study, cross-sectional. Background Deficits in ankle proprioceptive acuity have been reported in persons with functional instability of the ankle. Passive stiffness has been proposed as a possible mechanism underlying proprioceptive acuity.

Myofascial force transmission in the lower limb: An in vivo experiment.

Anatomical studies have shown structural continuity between the lumbopelvic region and the lower limb. The present study aimed to verify how simultaneous changes on knee/hip positions modify the ankle's resting position and passive torque. Thirty-seven subjects underwent an isokinetic assessment of ankle passive torque.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels are increased in older women after an acute episode of low back pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a growing public health problem in old age, and it is associated with disabling pain and depressive disorders. We compared brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma levels, a key neurotrophin in pain modulation, between older women after an acute episode of LBP and age-matched pain-free controls, and investigated potential differences in BDNF levels between controls and LBP subgroups based on pain severity, presence of depressive symptoms and use of analgesic and antidepressant drugs.

Methods: A total of 221 participants (154 with LBP and 67 pain-free) were studied.

Is the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire Valid to Assess Older Adults Aerobic Fitness?

Background: Aerobic fitness in older adults is related to health status, incident disability, nursing home admission, and all-cause mortality. The most accurate quantification of aerobic fitness, expressed as peak oxygen consumption in mL·kg·min, is the cardiorespiratory exercise test; however, it is not feasible in all settings and might offer risk to patients. The Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) is a 13-item self-administered symptom questionnaire that estimates aerobic fitness expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs) and has been validated to cardiovascular patients.

Impact of Type-2 Diabetes Time Since Diagnosis on Elderly Women Gait and Functional Status.

Background And Purpose: The gait, mobility and lower-limb strength alterations of diabetic elderly women without symptoms of diabetic neuropathy in different periods of the chronic disease can contribute to an early functional diagnosis, allowing prevention of adverse outcomes like falls and disability. This could also contribute to the development of interventions, cures and physiotherapy practice for this population. The aim of this study was to verify the impact of type-2 diabetes mellitus time since diagnosis on gait and functional status of elderly women.

Clinical functional tests help identify elderly women highly concerned about falls.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Limited research exists on functional tests in the discrimination of elderly individuals with high concern about falls from individuals with low concern about falls. The purpose of this study was to determine which functional test best discriminates between elderly women with low and high concern about falls.

Methods: One hundred thirty-five elderly women (72.

Step length appears to be a strong discriminant gait parameter for elderly females highly concerned about falls: a cross-sectional observational study.

Objective: To determine if gait parameters and the Timed Up and Go test can discriminate between elderly females with high and low concern about falls. Knowledge of these parameters could help in the development of rehabilitation programmes focused on the prevention of falls, fear of falling and functional decline.

Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.