RESUMEN
SUMMARY: Frailty affects the functional autonomy (FA) of older adults and could manifest itself in muscle imbalances in the limbs, resulting in a disparity in size and strength between them. In Chile, information on the relationship between muscle strength (MS) levels and FA asymmetries in older women is limited. This study related the levels of MS, anthropometric parameters, and asymmetries of the lower and upper limbs, with the FA of a group of older Chilean women. The study included 39 women who participated, and their FA was evaluated using the GDLAM index (IG). Based on the score obtained in the IG, they were classified by percentiles as Group 1 with favorable FA (P ≤ 50) and Group 2 with low FA (P > 50). Anthropometric parameters were BMI, fat percentage, bone mass, circumferences (arm, thigh, calf), diameters (humerus, femur) and upper/lower limb strength was evaluated to determine asymmetries. The differences between the covariates of both groups were evaluated using the student's t test and the Mann-Whitney test for independent samples. G1 presented less asymmetry (p > 0.05) in the lower limbs and greater calf circumference than G2 (p < 0.05). G1 presented greater bilateral strength (dominant and non-dominant limb) compared to G2 (p < 0.05). The covariates of age, anthropometry, MS, and lower/upper limb asymmetries influence FA in older women.
La fragilidad afecta la autonomía funcional (AF) de las personas mayores y podría manifestarse en desequilibrios musculares en los miembros, dando lugar a una disparidad de tamaño y fuerza entre ellos. En Chile, la información que relaciona los niveles de fuerza muscular (FM) y las asimetrías con la AF en mujeres mayores es limitada. Este estudio relacionó los niveles de FM, parámetros antropométricos y asimetrías de los miembros inferiores y superiores, con la AF de un grupo de mujeres mayores chilenas. Participaron 39 mujeres, cuya AF se evaluó mediante el índice GDLAM (IG). En función de la puntuación obtenida en el IG, se clasificaron por percentiles en Grupo 1 con AF favorable (P ≤ 50) y Grupo 2 con AF baja (P > 50). Los parámetros antropométricos fueron IMC, porcentaje de grasa, masa ósea, circunferencias (brazo, muslo, pantorrilla), diámetros (húmero, fémur) y se evaluó la fuerza de los miembros superiores/ inferiores para determinar asimetrías. Las diferencias entre las covariables de ambos grupos se evaluaron mediante la prueba t de student y la prueba de Mann-Whitney para muestras independientes. G1 presentó menor asimetría (p > 0,05) en los miembros inferiores y mayor perímetro de pantorrilla que G2 (p < 0,05). G1 presentó mayor fuerza bilateral (miembro dominante y no dominante) en comparación con G2 (p < 0,05). Las covariables de antropometría, FM y asimetrías de extremidades inferiores/superiores influyen en la AF en mujeres mayores.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Actividades Cotidianas , Antropometría , Fuerza Muscular , Chile , Estudios Transversales , Fuerza de la Mano , Autonomía PersonalRESUMEN
The objectives of this study were: (a) to determine asymmetries, both lower limb (LL) and upper limb (UL), in Chilean older adults, and (b) to relate asymmetries to FA in both LL and UL. Forty-one older adults voluntarily participated in this study (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age 72.0 ± 8.0 years, LL asymmetries 13.78 ± 14.87%, UL asymmetries 10.70 ± 8.85%, FA 40.35 ± 16.26 points). The variables were: (1) asymmetries of LL and UL, assessed through a force platform and handgrip, respectively; (2) FA, assessed through the Latin American Group for Maturity (GDLAM) and the GDLAM index of autonomy (GI) protocol. The relationship between the variables was performed through Spearman's correlation. The analysis showed that 39% of the participants presented asymmetries above 15% in the LL. Likewise, this 39% of older adults presented a lower FA than their peers with asymmetries below 15% in the LL (≤15%: 35.64 ± 12.26 points vs. >15%: 47.69 ± 19.23 points, p = 0.003). The analysis showed a small correlation between LL and GI asymmetries (r = 0.27, p = 0.07) and a small but negative correlation between UL and GI (r = -0.21). The mean values of asymmetries of both LL and UL are within 'normal' parameters. However, several older adults were identified as being at risk. In parallel, older adults who presented a higher level of asymmetries in LL showed a lower level of FA.