Aug

10

Physical capability in mid-life and survival over 13 years of follow-up: British birth cohort study

Grip strength was measured isometrically with an electronic handgrip dynamometer. The dynamometers were calibrated at the start of testing by using a back-loading rig and are accurate, linear, and stable to within 0.5 kg. The retest variability within individual participants for maximal voluntary tests of strength in those unused to such measurements is about 9%. Two values were recorded for each hand and the highest used in analyses. Chair rise time was measured with a stopwatch as the time taken to rise from a sitting to a standing position with straight back and legs and then to sit down again 10 complete times as fast as possible. For high scores to indicate good performance, we calculated chair rise speed by dividing the number of rises (that is, 10) by the time taken to complete 10 rises (in minutes). Standing balance time was measured, using a stopwatch, as the longest time, up to a maximum of 30 seconds, participants could maintain a one-legged stance in a standard position with their eyes closed.

Big Al lists:

I've been doing balance exercises with a stopwatch, but mostly eyes-open. With eyes closed, I've only gotten up to 12 seconds.

Humbert H. comments:

It seems the article deliberately stayed away from remedies. It noted that certain things (most of which I have seen before in similar contexts, so this isn't entirely new) are associated with increased mortality. Exercise is universally recognized as positive, but there wasn't even a hint that doing anything specific about any of the indicators reduces mortality. Causation and what to do about any of these need a lot more research, it seems.

Big Al responds:

Yes. Causation arrow pointing one way: Eyes-closed balance measures some more complex internal state of health that predicts longevity. Flip the arrow: I practice balance exercises to improve my balance and thus reduce the chance of falling which is a major cause of hospitalization and death in older cohorts.

Humbert H. agrees:

Excellent point, that can be generalized as follows: when you don't understand the root cause of the problem, limiting its negative effects is always the right strategy.

James Goldcamp writes:

The eyes closed one leg stand is exceptionally hard.

I used to measure grip strength and own a hand dynameter. I found grip strength could vary/range as much 145 lbs to 177 lbs in the same month based on rest and recovery state.

Since these are all basically a function of power and strength (standing up and rate), and neurological efficiency (grip/ balance) unilateral leg strengthening (e.g. pistols to a chair of suitable height) and carrying objects (walk around room it yard with a dumbbell or kettlebell within ones level of strength) would be the obvious activities. Another challenge as we age is doing any resistance activity for power (vs strength)since the obvious choices carry injury risk (sprinting, box jumping, Olympic lifts, med ball throwing).

However, I believe its less a matter of training to these qualities than these measurements select for people who have maintained power/strength generally (strength trumps muscle for longevity though they obviously overlap).and are thus less susceptible to falls and things like hip fractures that cascade people downwards. It would be interesting to know how much of the longevity is predicated on fall reduction and or recovery after.


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