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Show COLLEGE OF HEALTH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS Logan Ranzenberger Paul LaStayo 38 DOES THE DECREASE IN GRIP STRENGTH IN AGING MALES AND FEMALES PARALLEL THE DETERIORATING LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOBILITY? Logan Ranzenberger (Paul LaStayo) Department of Physical Therapy University of Utah Purpose: Levels of physical activity and mobility are key determinants of survival and longevity in older individuals. An older individual's muscular strength diminishes with age and progressive weakness is thought to parallel a deterioration in levels of physical activity and mobility. The overarching goal of this study was to characterize the linkage between an older individual's grip strength and their perceived physical activity and mobility levels. Further, w e specifically explored whether males and females perceive their physical activity and mobility levels similarly in relation to their grip strength. Heretofore, it has been assumed (and w e hypothesized) that both sexes perceive their physical activity and mobility levels to be diminishing in concert with decreasing levels of grip strength. To-date, this sex-dependent assessment has not been performed. Methods: This descriptive study included data on grip strength (kg) and self reported levels of physical activity and mobility in 545 older individuals involved in a study on exceptional longevity in Utah. There were 297 males aged 90.6 ± 3.78 years and 248 female aged 91.4 ± 3.9 years from a sample of five standardized questions from the UTAH-FLAG database questionnaires regarding self-report of physical activity and mobility levels. The possible responses to these questions varied with 2-3 options ranging from no limitation, moderate limitation, and a severe limitation in physical activity or mobility. The dependant variable was grip strength and a two-way A N O V A was used to test whether an interaction of sex and the response level to the questions existed. A post hoc pairwise comparison was utilized if an interaction was present. Results/Conclusion: The mean grip strength for was significantly different for males (27.5 ± 8.3 kg) and females (14.95 ± 4.9). In both groups, grip strength values were inversely related to age. In each of the five questions males demonstrated a parallel decrease in grip strength as their perception of their physical abilities and mobility levels decreased. In contrast, the grip strength in females did not decrease in parallel with their perceived diminished physical abilities and mobility levels, i.e., a perceived deterioration in physical activity and mobility does not seem to be linked to deteriorating grip strength in older females. This result is unique as grip strength is thought to decrease in parallel with deteriorating levels of physical activity and mobility, but this is not the case with older exceptionally longevous females. bFSADL: Is Help Needed to Walk? § 25.00 % 20.00 15.00 5 10.00 § 5.00 i . ^^Male • Female 4 } m a m mt" " -*y 2; No Help Needed 26.28 13.90 1; Help Needed 21.S0 1381 |
