The importance of physical activity in promoting health and well-being of the young adult population is
evidenced by several epidemiological studies. The increasing incidence in this population of cardiovascular,
metabolic and degenerative diseases and obesity has been linked with an epidemic variable, the sedentary
behavior, and commonly dubbed the “disease of the century”. Regular physical activity may contribute to the
development of muscle strength, improve the quality of soft tissue and bone mass, and decreased body fat. The
early inclusion of regular physical activity and other healthy lifestyles tend to be incorporated throughout life with
noticeable gains in health and quality of life in adult life.
In this study we assessed the physical activity level (PAL), muscle strength (MS) and body composition (BC) of 84
young adults in higher education with the following, assess physical activity; evaluate different
manifestations of muscle strength; assess body composition and analyze the relationship between muscle strength,
body composition and physical activity in young adults.
We drew up a descriptive, correlational and cross-cutting study. To achieve our objective we
collected the following data:
a) Physical activity: short version of IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire).
b) Muscle strength: hand grip of both hands with Jamar®
c) Key pinch strength with digital dynamometer Baseline
Hand Dynamometer;
®
d) Maximum isometric strength of the quadriceps in seat 45-degree incline leg press machine linked to a strain
gauge Ergo Meter – Globus
;
®
f) Body composition: bioelectric impedance on Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor
and appropriated software
g) Height: stadiometer Seca
A total of 84 university students were subject to this study, 66 females and 18 males with an average of
20,9±2,3 years old. In IPAQ classification we found 50 students with low, 25 with moderate and 9 with high level
of physical activity. Relatively to muscle strength there were significant correlations between handgrip strength (both
hands), key pinch strength (both hands) and isometric maximum strength of the quadriceps. Analysing body
composition we can observe that female students with more IMC and more body fat present higher levels of
physical activity. Regarding the male students, we can find the opposite: the lesser the percentage of body fat and
lower IMC levels the higher physical activity. We found no relation between the different strength demonstrations
and the levels of physical activity. When correlating handgrip strength (right hand; left hand) with body
composition, we observed correlations between:
®
Height (0,704**; 0,705**), total body fat (-0,412**; -0,428**), weight (0,406**; 0,463**), body water
(0,441**; 0,453**), visceral fat level (0,223*; 0,259*), bone mass (0,800**; 0,798**) and muscular mass
(0,816**; 0,803**).
When correlating key pinch strength (right hand; left hand) with body composition, we observed correlations
between:
Height (0,577**; 0,531**), total body fat (-0,389**; -0,252*), weight (0,336**; 0,424**), body water
(0,449**; 0,348**), bone mass (0,638**; 0,657**) and muscular mass (0,677**; 0,684**).
When correlating maximum isometric strength of the quadriceps with body composition, we observed correlations
between:
Height (0,355**), total body fat (-0,389**), body water (0,389**), bone mass (0,480**) and muscular mass
(0,490**).Results indicate that the evaluated university students are mainly sedentary. We also concluded that
there are very strong positive correlations between the different manifestations of strength and that there is no
relationship between the different manifestations of strength and levels of physical activity. Analyzing our results, we
can conjecture about why young people do exercise: females exercise themselves to lose height and males to
maintain physical condition. But there are strong correlations between the different manifestations of strength and
the different variables of body composition.
The importance of physical activity in promoting health and well-being of the young adult population is evidenced by several epidemiological studies. The increasing incidence in this population of cardiovascular, metabolic and degenerative diseases and obesity has been linked with an epidemic variable, the sedentary behavior, and commonly dubbed the “disease of the century”. Regular physical activity may contribute to the development of muscle strength, improve the quality of soft tissue and bone mass, and decreased body fat. The early inclusion of regular physical activity and other healthy lifestyles tend to be incorporated throughout life with noticeable gains in health and quality of life in adult life. In this study we assessed the physical activity level (PAL), muscle strength (MS) and body composition (BC) of 84 young adults in higher education with the following, assess physical activity; evaluate different manifestations of muscle strength; assess body composition and analyze the relationship between muscle strength, body composition and physical activity in young adults. We drew up a descriptive, correlational and cross-cutting study. To achieve our objective we collected the following data: a) Physical activity: short version of IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). b) Muscle strength: hand grip of both hands with Jamar® c) Key pinch strength with digital dynamometer Baseline Hand Dynamometer; ® d) Maximum isometric strength of the quadriceps in seat 45-degree incline leg press machine linked to a strain gauge Ergo Meter – Globus ; ® f) Body composition: bioelectric impedance on Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor and appropriated software g) Height: stadiometer Seca A total of 84 university students were subject to this study, 66 females and 18 males with an average of 20,9±2,3 years old. In IPAQ classification we found 50 students with low, 25 with moderate and 9 with high level of physical activity. Relatively to muscle strength there were significant correlations between handgrip strength (both hands), key pinch strength (both hands) and isometric maximum strength of the quadriceps. Analysing body composition we can observe that female students with more IMC and more body fat present higher levels of physical activity. Regarding the male students, we can find the opposite: the lesser the percentage of body fat and lower IMC levels the higher physical activity. We found no relation between the different strength demonstrations and the levels of physical activity. When correlating handgrip strength (right hand; left hand) with body composition, we observed correlations between: ® Height (0,704**; 0,705**), total body fat (-0,412**; -0,428**), weight (0,406**; 0,463**), body water (0,441**; 0,453**), visceral fat level (0,223*; 0,259*), bone mass (0,800**; 0,798**) and muscular mass (0,816**; 0,803**). When correlating key pinch strength (right hand; left hand) with body composition, we observed correlations between: Height (0,577**; 0,531**), total body fat (-0,389**; -0,252*), weight (0,336**; 0,424**), body water (0,449**; 0,348**), bone mass (0,638**; 0,657**) and muscular mass (0,677**; 0,684**). When correlating maximum isometric strength of the quadriceps with body composition, we observed correlations between: Height (0,355**), total body fat (-0,389**), body water (0,389**), bone mass (0,480**) and muscular mass (0,490**).Results indicate that the evaluated university students are mainly sedentary. We also concluded that there are very strong positive correlations between the different manifestations of strength and that there is no relationship between the different manifestations of strength and levels of physical activity. Analyzing our results, we can conjecture about why young people do exercise: females exercise themselves to lose height and males to maintain physical condition. But there are strong correlations between the different manifestations of strength and the different variables of body composition.
The normal aging process involves a loss of functional capacity, more or less significant, caused by the
deterioration of physiological systems. The decline in functional capacity, particularly at physical fitness, that
involves reducing the levels of muscle strength, gait and static balance disorders, are largely indicated in the
literature as major risk factors for falls in the elderly. Falls are a serious public health problem: 32% of people over
65 have at least one fall per year and 5% of falls result in fractures. The majority of seniors who had a fall will fall
again within six months [1]. The self perception of a reduced ability to self protection during the fall (speed of
reaction to cling, putting hands in front, for example) and the ability to get up after falling can trigger the fear of
falling and increase the functional decline by self-limitation of activity and self-restraint of participation [2]. The
objective of our study is to determine the relationship between fear of falling, functional capacity and body
composition in institutionalized elderly.
We drew up a descriptive, correlational and cross-cutting study. To achieve our. we
collected the following data:
a) Demographic variables: gender, age and length of institutionalization
b) Clinical history and risk factors for osteoporosis
c) Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) [2]
d) Senior Fitness Test Rikli Jones (1999) – modified protocol: timed up and go test; 30 sec arm curl test with
dumbbell; 30 sec sit to stand; back scratch test; chair sit and reach; unipodal balance eyes shut
e) handgrip strength of both hands: Jamar®
f) Key pinch strength with digital dynamometer Baseline
hand dynamometer
g) Body composition: bioelectric impedance on Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor
®
A total of 73 elderly were subject to this study, 46 women (81,02±7,71 years) and 27 men (81,81±7,76
years) with FES score of 84,33±21,08. We found correlations between age and:
®
30 sec arm curl test with dumbbell (-0,400**)
30 sec sit to stand (-0,331**)
chair sit and reach (-0,307*)
unipodal balance eyes shut (-0,278*)
timed up and go test (0,324**)
handgrip test left hand (-0,241*)
key pinch strength right (-0,280*) and left (-0,366**)
bone mass (-0,265*)
visceral fat rating (0,296*)
We found correlations between FES score and:
30 sec arm curl test with dumbbell (0,442**)
30 sec sit to stand (0,479**)
timed up and go test (-0,643**)
handgrip test right hand (0,368**) and left hand (0,343*)
key pinch strength right (0,409**) and left (0,400**)
bone mass (0,298*)
total muscle mass (0,290*)
When comparing the subjects of our study with standard values for same age and sex, we observed reduced values
with statistical differences in: 30 sec sit to stand, chair sit and reach, back scratch test, timed up and go test,
handgrip and key pinch strength, bone mass in women and total muscle mass (p<0,05). We also find statistical
differences, but with higher values, in total body fat, visceral fat rating and BMI (p<0,05).We detected low levels of functionality at agility, flexibility and balance in association with a
decrease in handgrip and key pinch strength. Also the findings regarding body composition are risk factors for
morbidity, risk of falls and low-impact fractures. Improving the functionality of the elderly population significantly
257
reduces risk factors for falls, increasing also the activity and social participation which leads to improved self-esteem
and self-image and a healthier life.
The normal aging process involves a loss of functional capacity, more or less significant, caused by the deterioration of physiological systems. The decline in functional capacity, particularly at physical fitness, that involves reducing the levels of muscle strength, gait and static balance disorders, are largely indicated in the literature as major risk factors for falls in the elderly. Falls are a serious public health problem: 32% of people over 65 have at least one fall per year and 5% of falls result in fractures. The majority of seniors who had a fall will fall again within six months [1]. The self perception of a reduced ability to self protection during the fall (speed of reaction to cling, putting hands in front, for example) and the ability to get up after falling can trigger the fear of falling and increase the functional decline by self-limitation of activity and self-restraint of participation [2]. The objective of our study is to determine the relationship between fear of falling, functional capacity and body composition in institutionalized elderly. We drew up a descriptive, correlational and cross-cutting study. To achieve our. we collected the following data: a) Demographic variables: gender, age and length of institutionalization b) Clinical history and risk factors for osteoporosis c) Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) [2] d) Senior Fitness Test Rikli Jones (1999) – modified protocol: timed up and go test; 30 sec arm curl test with dumbbell; 30 sec sit to stand; back scratch test; chair sit and reach; unipodal balance eyes shut e) handgrip strength of both hands: Jamar® f) Key pinch strength with digital dynamometer Baseline hand dynamometer g) Body composition: bioelectric impedance on Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor ® A total of 73 elderly were subject to this study, 46 women (81,02±7,71 years) and 27 men (81,81±7,76 years) with FES score of 84,33±21,08. We found correlations between age and: ® 30 sec arm curl test with dumbbell (-0,400**) 30 sec sit to stand (-0,331**) chair sit and reach (-0,307*) unipodal balance eyes shut (-0,278*) timed up and go test (0,324**) handgrip test left hand (-0,241*) key pinch strength right (-0,280*) and left (-0,366**) bone mass (-0,265*) visceral fat rating (0,296*) We found correlations between FES score and: 30 sec arm curl test with dumbbell (0,442**) 30 sec sit to stand (0,479**) timed up and go test (-0,643**) handgrip test right hand (0,368**) and left hand (0,343*) key pinch strength right (0,409**) and left (0,400**) bone mass (0,298*) total muscle mass (0,290*) When comparing the subjects of our study with standard values for same age and sex, we observed reduced values with statistical differences in: 30 sec sit to stand, chair sit and reach, back scratch test, timed up and go test, handgrip and key pinch strength, bone mass in women and total muscle mass (p<0,05). We also find statistical differences, but with higher values, in total body fat, visceral fat rating and BMI (p<0,05).We detected low levels of functionality at agility, flexibility and balance in association with a decrease in handgrip and key pinch strength. Also the findings regarding body composition are risk factors for morbidity, risk of falls and low-impact fractures. Improving the functionality of the elderly population significantly 257 reduces risk factors for falls, increasing also the activity and social participation which leads to improved self-esteem and self-image and a healthier life.
