G4 Doctoral dissertation (monograph)
Maximal isometric strength in older adults : cross-national comparisons, background factors and association with mobility (1994)

Rantanen, T. (1994). Maximal isometric strength in older adults : cross-national comparisons, background factors and association with mobility [Doctoral dissertation]. Jyväskylän yliopisto. Studies in sport, physical education and health, 32. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7907-2

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Rantanen, Taina

ISBN: 951-34-0225-8

eISBN: 978-951-39-7907-2

Journal or series: Studies in sport, physical education and health

ISSN: 0356-1070

Publication year: 1994

Number in series: 32

Number of pages in the book: 88

Publisher: Jyväskylän yliopisto

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7907-2

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Abstract

The aim was to study the levels and background factors of maximal isometric strength in older adults, as well as the association of strength with mobility. 75-year-old men and women were studied in three Nordic localities (Glostrup, Denmark; Gothenburg, Sweden; and Jyväskylä, Finland) to compare strength levels and anthropometric characteristics between populations. Socio-economic status, health and everyday physical activity as background factors of maximal strength were then studied among the 75-year-old residents of Jyväskylä. The association between life-long physical exercise, educational background and work history with strength were investigated in specially selected groups of women aged 50-60 years and 66-85 years. Altogether, 1113 individuals took part in the maximal isometric strength tests. Maximal isometric strength of hand grip, elbow flexion, knee extension, trunk flexion and extension were measured with the aid of specially constructed dynamometers. Significant differences in the strength were observed between the 75-year-olds in Glostrup, Gothenburg and Jyvaskyla partly owing to differences in basic anthropometric characteristics. Poorer values in the state-of-health indicators correlated with lower strength and greater amount of everyday physical activity with better strength. Women with life-long history of physical exercise exhibited greater force values than their sedentary controls. Among the 50-60-year-old women a university level educational background was connected with greater muscle strength, whereas among the older persons education or former occupation were not associated with strength. Greater strength was connected with better locomotor abilities.

Keywords: muscles; performance (capacity); growing old; ageing; physical fitness; older people; physical training; health effects; force; muscle strength; muscle fitness; mobility

Free keywords: muscle strength; aging; exercise; anthropometry; socio-economic status; health; mobility

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes