Age-specific comparisons in the rate of force development of toe pressure strength and its association with the timed up and go test

Taishiro Kamasaki; Hiroshi Otao; Shinichi Tanaka; Mizuki Hachiya; Atsuko Kubo; Hiroyuki Okawa; Asuka Sakamoto; Kazuhiko Fujiwara; Takuya Suenaga; Yo Kichize; Suguru Shimokihara; Michio Maruta; Gwanghee Han; Yasuhiro Mizokami; Takayuki Tabira

doi:10.1007/s41999-024-00959-2

Age-specific comparisons in the rate of force development of toe pressure strength and its association with the timed up and go test

Eur Geriatr Med. 2024 Mar 5. doi: 10.1007/s41999-024-00959-2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Taishiro Kamasaki^{1

2}, Hiroshi Otao³, Shinichi Tanaka⁴, Mizuki Hachiya³, Atsuko Kubo³, Hiroyuki Okawa³, Asuka Sakamoto³, Kazuhiko Fujiwara³, Takuya Suenaga⁵, Yo Kichize⁶, Suguru Shimokihara⁷, Michio Maruta^{8

9}, Gwanghee Han^{10

9}, Yasuhiro Mizokami¹¹, Takayuki Tabira¹²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishikyushu University, 4490-9, Ozaki, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan. tai.pt.ft@gmail.com.
² Doctoral Program of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan. tai.pt.ft@gmail.com.
³ Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishikyushu University, 4490-9, Ozaki, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan.
⁴ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Reiwa Health Sciences University, 2-1-12, Washirokaoka, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 811-0213, Japan.
⁵ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keitendo Koga Hospital, 1150 Kamioda, Kouhoku, Kishima, Saga, 849-0506, Japan.
⁶ Department of Rehabilitation, St. Mary's Hospital, 422, Tsubuku Honmachi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-8543, Japan.
⁷ Doctoral Program of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan.
⁸ Department of Occupational Therapy, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8520, Japan.
⁹ Visiting Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 137-1, Enokizu, Okawa, Fukuoka, 831-8501, Japan.
¹¹ Miz Co., Ltd, 1-1-11, Mizugae, Saga, 840-0054, Japan.
¹² Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan.

PMID: 38441837
DOI: 10.1007/s41999-024-00959-2

Abstract

Purpose: It has recently been recommended that Rate of Force Development (RFD) be evaluated in addition to maximal muscle strength. There are no studies on RFD of toe pressure strength, and its importance in older adults and the extent to which it is associated with aging needs to be clarified. This study purpose was to examine the association between the RFD of toe pressure strength and timed up and go test (TUG) in an age-specific study.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. Participants in the study included 159 younger adults (26.3 ± 13.1 years, 52% male) and 88 older adults (75.0 ± 6.2 years, 26% male). The RFD of toe pressure strength was determined from the force-time curve obtained during the toe pressure strength assessment, and the ability to exert maximum muscle force in the shortest possible time was assessed. Regression analysis was performed for each group to test the association between RFD of toe pressure strength and TUG by age.

Results: Younger adults showed no association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength, and significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength was found only in the older adults (standard regression coefficient = - 0.19, p = 0.048).

Conclusion: This study showed a significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength in older adults. These findings show that RFD is one of the functions that should be assessed, particularly in older adults. Furthermore, it was suggested that approaching RFD could improve gait, standing, and sitting movements.

Keywords: Older adults; RFD; TUG; Toe muscle strength; Toe pressure strength.