Authors: Kristin Taraldsen1, A Stefanie Mikolaizak, Andrea B Maier, Elisabeth Boulton, Kamiar Aminian, Jeanine van Ancum, Stefania Bandinelli, Clemens Becker, Ronny Bergquist, Lorenzo Chiari, Lindy Clemson, David P French, Brenda Gannon, Helen Hawley-Hague, Nini H Jonkman, Sabato Mellone, Anisoara Paraschiv-Ionescu,   Mirjam Pijnappels, Michael Schwenk, Chris Todd, Fan Bella Yang, Anna Zacchi, Jorunn L Helbostad,Beatrix Vereijken Abstract Introduction The European population is rapidly ageing. In order to handle substantial future challenges in the healthcare system, we need to shift focus from treatment towards health promotion. The PreventIT project has adapted the Lifestyle-integrated Exercise (LiFE) programme and developed an intervention for healthy young older adults at risk of accelerated functional decline. The intervention targets balance, muscle strength and physical activity, and is delivered eitherRead More

Authors: Van Ancum JM, Pijnappels M, Jonkman NH, Scheerman K, Verlaan S, Meskers CGM, Maier AB. Abstract BACKGROUND: Low muscle mass and strength are highly prevalent in inpatients. It is acknowledged that low muscle mass and strength are associated with falls in community-dwelling older adults, but it is unknown if these muscle measures are also associated with falls in a population of older inpatients. This study aimed to investigate the association between muscle measures and pre- and post-hospitalization falls in older inpatients. METHODS: An inception cohort of patients aged 70 years and older, admitted to an academic teaching hospital, was included inRead More

Authors: van Rijssen NM, Rojer AGM, Trappenburg MC, Reijnierse EM, Meskers CGM, Maier AB, de van der Schueren MAE. Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM: A body of evidence is supporting the association between (the risk of) malnutrition in relation to physical performance, muscle strength, risk for depression and cognitive status in geriatric outpatients. Associations between being malnourished according to the newly proposed ESPEN definition for malnutrition and clinically relevant outcome measures of the aforementioned variables have not been confirmed yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between being malnourished according to the ESPEN definition and clinically relevantRead More

Authors: Weber M, Belala N, Clemson L, Boulton E, Hawley-Hague H, Becker C, Schwenk M. Abstract BACKGROUND: Traditionally, exercise programmes for improving functional performance and reducing falls are organised as structured sessions. An alternative approach of integrating functional exercises into everyday tasks has emerged in recent years. OBJECTIVES: Summarising the current evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of interventions integrating functional exercise into daily life. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted including articles based on the following criteria: (1) individuals ≥60 years; (2) intervention studies of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies (NRS); (3) using a lifestyle-integrated approach;Read More

Authors: Suey S. Y. Yeung, Esmee M. Reijnierse, Marijke C. Trappenburg, Gerard J. Blauw, Carel G. M. Meskers & Andrea B. Maier Background Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) generally includes handgrip strength (HGS) as a measure of overall muscle strength that is associated with various health characteristics in geriatric outpatients. Whether this is also true for knee extension strength (KES) is yet unknown. This study aims to compare the associations between health characteristics from the CGA with both HGS and KES in geriatric outpatients. Methods Data were retrieved from a cross-sectional study. A total of 163 community-dwelling older adults referred to a geriatric outpatient clinic of aRead More

Authors: Reijnierse EM, de van der Schueren MAE, Trappenburg MC, Doves M, Meskers CGM, Maier AB. Abstract OBJECTIVES: Sarcopenia is an emerging clinical challenge in an ageing population and is associated with serious negative health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the current state of the art regarding the knowledge about the concept of sarcopenia and practice of the diagnostic strategy and management of sarcopenia in a cohort of Dutch healthcare professionals (physicians, physiotherapists, dietitians and others) attending a lecture cycle on sarcopenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This longitudinal study included Dutch healthcare professionals (n = 223) who were asked to completeRead More

Authors:Reijnierse EM, de Jong N, Trappenburg MC, Blauw GJ, Butler-Browne G, Gapeyeva H, Hogrel JY, McPhee JS, Narici MV, Sipilä S, Stenroth L, van Lummel RC, Pijnappels M, Meskers CGM, Maier AB. Abstract BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength (HGS) is used to identify individuals with low muscle strength (dynapenia). The influence of the number of attempts on maximal HGS is not yet known and may differ depending on age and health status. This study aimed to assess how many attempts of HGS are required to obtain maximal HGS. METHODS: Three cohorts (939 individuals) differing in age and health status were included. HGSRead More

Authors:Jonkman NH, van Schooten KS, Maier AB, Pijnappels M. Abstract eHealth solutions are increasingly being applied to deliver interventions for promoting an active lifestyle in the general population but also in older people. Objective assessment of daily physical activity (PA) is essential to accurately and reliably evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions. This review presents an overview of eHealth interventions that focus on promoting PA in community-dwelling older people, and discusses the methods used to objectively assess PA, and the effectiveness of the eHealth interventions in increasing PA. The twelve eHealth intervention studies that met our inclusion criteria used aRead More

AUTHORS: Jonkman NH, Del Panta V, Hoekstra T, Colpo M, van Schoor NM, Bandinelli S, Cattelani L, Helbostad JL, Vereijken B, Pijnappels M, Maier AB. Abstract BACKGROUND: Early identification of people at risk of functional decline is essential for delivering targeted preventive interventions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify and predict trajectories of functional decline over 9 years in males and females aged 60-70 years. METHODS: We included 403 community-dwelling participants from the InCHIANTI study and 395 from the LASA study aged 60-70 years at baseline, of whom the majority reported no functional decline at baseline (medianRead More

  Authors: Ronny Bergquist, Michaela Weber, Michael Schwenk, Synnøve Ulseth, Jorunn L. Helbostad, Beatrix Vereijken and Kristin Taraldsen Background Many balance and strength tests exist that have been designed for older seniors, often aged ≥70 years. To guide strategies for preventing functional decline, valid and reliable tests are needed to detect early signs of functional decline in young seniors. Currently, little is known about which tests are being used in young seniors and their methodological quality. This two-step review aims to 1) identify commonly used tests of balance and strength, and 2) evaluate their measurement properties in young seniors. Methods First, a systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE to identify primary studies that employedRead More