A body-fixed-sensor-based analysis of stair ascent and sit-to-stand to detect age-related differences in leg-extensor power

PLoS One. 2019 Jan 17;14(1):e0210653. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210653. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Human ageing is accompanied by a progressive decline in leg-extensor power (LEP). LEP is typically measured with specialized and expensive equipment, which limits the large-scale applicability. Previously, sensor-based trunk kinematics have been used to estimate the vertical power required to elevate the body's center of mass during functional tests, but the link with LEP and age remains to be investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether a body-fixed sensor-based analysis of power during stair ascent (SA) and sit-to-stand (STS) is positively related to LEP and whether its ability to detect age-related declines is similar. In addition, the effect of load during SA and STS was investigated. 98 adults (20-70 years) performed a leg press to assess LEP, SA and 5-repetition STS tests. In SA and STS, two conditions were tested: unloaded and loaded (+10% body mass). An inertial measurement unit was used to analyze (sub)-durations and vertical power. SA and STS power were more related to LEP than duration parameters (i.e. 0.80-0.81 for power and -0.41 --0.66 for duration parameters, p < 0.05). The average annual age-related percent change was higher in SA power (-1.38%) than in LEP (-0.86%) and STS power (-0.38%) (p < 0.05). Age explained 29% in SA power (p < 0.001), as opposed to 14% in LEP (p < 0.001) and a non-significant 2% in STS power (p = 0.102). The addition of 10% load did not influence the age-related decline of SA and STS power nor the relationship with LEP. These results demonstrate the potential of SA tests to detect age-related deterioration in neuromuscular function. SA seems more sensitive to detect age-related changes than LEP, probably because of the additional balance component and plantar- and dorsiflexor activity. On the contrary, STS is less sensitive to age-related changes because of a ceiling effect in well-functioning adults.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Leg / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Muscle Strength / physiology*
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

R.C. van Lummel is the founder of McRoberts B.V., which is the manufacturer of the MoveTest product. R.C. van Lummel has been involved in the conceptualization and reviewing/editing of this article. B. Huijben is an employee of McRoberts and was responsible for the development of the stair test analysis, sit to stand analysis, methodology and reviewing/editing this article. McRoberts B.V. did not provide any financial compensation, nor did they pay the authors’ salaries and research materials. McRoberts B.V. did provide a MoveTest device and the associated analysis platform for data collection. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.