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Background The main objective of this study was to evaluate gait parameters in people with intellectual disability (ID) and without intellectual disability (WID) in two different walking conditions [single task vs. dual task (DT)]. A secondary aim was to evaluate the dual-task cost (DTC) that the DT causes in each group. Methods A total of 119 participants joined in this study: 56 ID (30 men) and 63 WID (30 men). The OptoGait system was used to assess gait. In addition, Witty photocells were added to assess gait under the DT condition. Results Single support time was lower for participants with ID (P < 0.01), while double support time was higher (P < 0.05). All coefficients of variation for gait parameters were higher in participants with ID. Additionally, changes in gait were observed in both groups during the DT condition compared with the single-task condition. These changes were larger for participants with ID in step length, double support time and gait speed (P < 0.001), resulting in a higher DTC in these variables in the ID group (P < 0.01). Conclusions Both groups reduced gait performance in the DT condition. However, greater gait variability occurred in the ID group. In addition, DTC was higher for the ID group in all variables analysed. Therefore, people with ID show worse gait performance during a DT than people WID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the strength of associations between different indices of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and brain health outcomes in children with overweight/obesity. Methods: Participants were 100 children aged 8–11 years. CRF was assessed using treadmill exercise test (peak oxygen uptake [V̇O2peak], treadmill time, and V̇O2 at ventilatory threshold) and 20‐metre shuttle run test (20mSRT, laps, running speed, estimated V̇O2peak using the equations by Léger et al., Mahar et al., and Matsuzaka et al.). Intelligence, executive functions, and academic performance were assessed using validated methods. Total gray matter and hippocampal volumes were assessed using structural MRI. Results: V̇O2peak/body mass (β = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.01–0.35) and treadmill time (β = 0.18–0.21, 95% CI = 0.01–0.39) were positively associated with gray matter volume. 20mSRT laps were positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.255, 95% CI = 0.089–0.421) and academic performance (β = 0.199–0.255, 95% CI = 0.006–0.421), and the running speed was positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.203, 95% CI = 0.039–0.367). Estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. was positively associated with intelligence, executive functions, academic performance, and gray matter volume (β = 0.205–0.282, 95% CI = 0.013–0.500). Estimated V̇O2peak/Mahar et al. and V̇O2peak/Matsuzaka et al. (speed) were positively associated with executive functions (β = 0.204–0.256, 95% CI = 0.031–0.436). Conclusion: Although V̇O2peak is considered the gold standard indicator of CRF in children, peak performance (laps or running speed) and estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. derived from 20mSRT had stronger and more consistent associations with brain health outcomes than other indices of CRF in children with overweight/obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aibar-Almazán, A, Martínez-Amat, A, Cruz-Díaz, D, Jesús de la Torre-Cruz, M, Jiménez-García, JD, Zagalaz-Anula, N, Redecillas-Peiró, MT, Mendoza-Ladrón de Guevara, N, and Hita-Contreras, F. The influence of Pilates exercises on body composition, muscle strength, and gait speed in community-dwelling older women: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2298–2305, 2022—Population aging is a global phenomenon that has wide-ranging consequences for the health of individuals, including age-related obesity, muscle loss, and a decline in muscle strength and gait speed. These alterations are associated with disability, functional decline, and mortality in older adults. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of Pilates exercises on body composition, handgrip strength, and physical performance among community-dwelling Spanish women aged 60 and older. A randomized controlled trial of a 12-week Pilates training program was conducted. A total of 109 women were randomly allocated to either a control (n = 54) or a Pilates (n = 55) group. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance. Body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, and height-adjusted skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were assessed before and immediately after the intervention, as were physical performance, estimated by gait speed (timed up-and-go test), and handgrip strength. Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed both within and between groups for handgrip strength (Cohen's d = 0.40 and 0.52 respectively) and gait speed (Cohen's d = 0.86 and 0.87 respectively). After 12 weeks, BMI significantly decreased (Cohen's d = 0.07) only in the Pilates group. No significant differences were observed regarding SMI. In conclusion, a 12-week Pilates exercise intervention on community dwelling women over 60 years old shows beneficial effects on muscle strength, physical performance, and BMI, but failed to induce any changes on body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Hospitalization is associated with acute changes in sarcopenia status in older people, but the influencing factors are not fully understood. Pre-admission care dependency level as a risk factor has not yet been investigated. Objective Evaluate if pre-admission care dependency level is an independent predictor of sarcopenia changes following hospitalization. Setting and subjects Data came from the Sarcopenia 9+ EAMA Project, a European prospective multi-centre study. For this study, 227 hospitalised older people were included from four different hospitals in Belgium, Spain and Poland, between 18 February 2019 and 5 September 2020. Methods Sarcopenia status at admission and discharge were calculated using a combined score (desirability value) based on muscle mass (calf circumference), strength (grip) and function (walking speed). Ratio of admission to discharge status was the outcome (desirability ratio; 1.00 meaning no difference). Predictor variable was the pre-admission care dependency level, classified into three groups: independent older people living at home, dependent older people living at home and older people living in a care home. Linear regression models were applied, considering potential confounders. Results Mean desirability ratio for dependent older people living at home ('middle dependent group') was lower (0.89) compared to independent older people (0.98; regression coefficient −0.09 [95% CI −0.16, −0.02]) and care home patients (1.05; −0.16 [95% CI −0.01, −0.31]). Adjusting for potential confounders or using another statistical approach did not affect the main results. Conclusion Dependent older people living at home were at higher risk of deterioration in sarcopenia status following hospitalization. In-depth studies investigating causes and potential interventions of these findings are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although clinical gait speed may indicate health and well-being in older adults, there is a lack of studies comparing clinical tests with ambulatory gait speed with regard to several health outcomes. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the associations of clinical gait speed, measured by the 2.44-m walk test and the ambulatory gait speed with several physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes in older adults. Design A cross-sectional design was used. Methods The study population comprised 432 high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults (287 women) aged between 65 and 92 years. Clinical and ambulatory gait speeds were measured using the 2.44-m walk test and a portable gait analysis device, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association of clinical and ambulatory gait speeds with several health outcomes (body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, chronic conditions, self-rated health, exhaustion, upper- and lower-body strength, physical and mental health status, cognitive status, and self-rated cognitive status). Results The results showed that the average gait speed for clinical and ambulatory measures cannot be directly compared. Clinical gait speed was associated with 7 health outcomes, and the ambulatory gait speed was associated with 6 health outcomes. The significant associations between measures of gait speed and the health outcomes converged in 5 of the 13 health outcomes studied; however, the strength of associations was singly different between measures. Limitations The short monitoring time, the inability to distinguish between the ambulatory gait speed inside the home and outdoor gait speed, and the under-representative sample are limitations of the study. Conclusion The results indicated differences in the number and strength of associations between clinical and ambulatory gait speed. Both measures have construct validity because they have been associated with physical and health outcomes; however, they may have different predictive validity. Further research should be conducted to compare their predictive validity in longitudinal designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess if the impact of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) on nutritional and functional status in malnourished older persons living in nursing homes shown by clinical trials are also found outside a trial setting. Observational, multicenter, prospective, pragmatic study. This study was carried out in 38 nursing homes throughout Spain. Nursing home physicians recruited consecutive residents, older than 65 years, with a diagnosis of malnutrition, when a clinical decision to start ONS had been taken after unsuccessful initial management with dietary interventions. The participants received daily 2 bottles of an energy-rich, high-protein commercial ONS for 3 months. Primary outcomes were changes in nutritional status [body weight, body mass index (BMI), and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF)]; secondary outcomes were functional changes [Functional Ambulation Classification, Barthel index, handgrip strength, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)], as well as safety and adherence after 12 weeks of follow-up. A total of 282 residents (median age 86 years, 67% women) were included, and 244 (86.5%) completed the follow-up. At baseline, 77.3% of the participants were malnourished (BMI 19.7 kg/m2, interquartile range 18.3–21.8). After 12 weeks of follow-up, participants experienced significant increases in body weight (2.6 ± 3.1 kg, 5.2 ± 5.9%), BMI (1.0 ± 1.2 kg/m2) and MNA-SF (4.0 ± 2.5 points). There were also significant improvements in functional status measured by the Barthel index, handgrip strength, SPPB, and gait speed. Good adherence was registered in 94.6% of the participants. No relevant side effects were found. Improvements in nutritional and functional status can be found when using a high-protein, high-calorie ONS in older undernourished people living in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]