Movement velocity in the chair squat is associated with measures of functional capacity and cognition in elderly people at low risk of fall

• Main Authors: Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández, Ángel Cordón, Nazaret Unquiles, Daniel Muñoz-García
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PeerJ Inc. 2018-04-01
• Series: PeerJ
• Subjects: Geriatrics; Muscles; Falling; Health; Technology
• Online Access: https://peerj.com/articles/4712.pdf

Background The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between muscular performance consisting of a single repetition on the chair squat exercise (CSQ) and different measures of functional capacity, balance, quality of life and cognitive status in older adults. Methods A total of 40 participants (22 women, 18 men; age = 72.2 ± 4.9 years) joined the investigation. Muscular performance was assessed by measuring movement velocity in the CSQ with no external load using a validated smartphone application (PowerLift for iOS). Functional capacity, balance, quality of life and cognitive status were evaluated using the hand-grip strength (HGS) test, the Berg-scale, the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) and the Mini mental state examination questionnaire (MMSE). Finally, participants were divided into two subgroups (N = 20) according to their velocity in the CSQ exercise. Results Positive correlations were obtained between movement velocity in the CSQ and HGS (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), the Berg-scale (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), the EQ-5D (r = 0.34, p = 0.03) and the MMSE (r = 0.36, p = 0.02). Participants in the fastest subgroup showed very likely higher scores in the Berg-scale (ES = 1.15) and the HGS (ES = 1.79), as well as likely higher scores in the MMSE scale (ES = 0.69). Discussion These results could have potential clinical relevance as they support the use of a time-efficient, non-fatiguing test of muscular performance (i.e., the CSQ) to evaluate functional capacity and mental cognition in older adults.