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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #208991
Title: Comparitive Assessment of Isokinetic and Pneumatic Lower Limb Strength in Functionally-Limited Elderly Subjects

Author
item REID, KIERAN - TUFTS UNIVERSITY
item CALLAHAN, DAMIEN - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item CARABELLO, ROBERT - TUFTS UNIVERSITY
item PHILLIPS, EDWARD - SPAULDING REHAB. HOSP.
item FRONTERA, WALTER - UNIV. OF PUERTO RICO
item Fielding, Roger

Submitted to: American College of Sports Medicine
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Reid, K.F., Callahan, D.M., Carabello, R.J., Phillips, E.M., Frontera, W.F., Fielding, R. Comparitive Assessment of Isokinetic and Pneumatic Lower Limb Strength in Functionally-Limited Elderly Subjects. In: American College of Sports Medicine, May 31, 2007, New Orleans, Lousiana. 39(S5):300.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between isokinetic and pneumatic knee extensor strength in functionally-limited elders and to compare the respective changes in knee extensor peak torque and one repetition maximum strength (1RM) after a randomized controlled progressive resistance training intervention. Fifty-seven community dwelling older adults (aged 65 to 94 yrs, 31 females) with moderate mobility limitations, as evidenced by a score less than or equal to 9 on the Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the short physical performance battery (mean 7.7 +/- 0.2) were randomized to either a control group of lower extremity stretching (CON, n = 12), a traditional slow-velocity strength training group (STR, n = 22) or a high-velocity high-power training group (POW, n = 23). Training was performed three times per week for 12 weeks and subjects completed three sets (8-10 repetitions) of pneumatic bilateral leg press and knee extension exercises. Knee extensor peak torque was assessed using a Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer at 60° sec-1 and knee extensor 1RM was assessed using a Keiser A400 pneumatic knee extension machine at baseline and post-intervention. Among the entire study group, there was a strong correlation between peak torque and 1RM at baseline (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) and week 12 (r = 0.77, p < 0.01). However, compared to peak torque, significantly greater changes in 1RM were elicited in POW (49.5 +/- 9% vs. 12.1 +/- 7%, p < 0.01), STR (41.3 +/- 5% vs. 11.7 +/- 7%, p < 0.01) and CON (8.9 +/- 5% vs. -1.2 +/- 6%, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that emphatic differences exist between isokinetic dynamometry and dynamic pneumatic resistance machines for the assessment of training induced adaptations in mobility-limited older adults. This may be due to the specificity of pneumatic training and testing. Additional studies are warranted to establish accurate protocols for evaluating lower extremity musculoskeletal performance in this population.