ECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP11
INTRODUCTION: Public parks are the primary exercise venues for older adults in Taiwan, and neighborhood outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) has been shown to benefit their physical activity. METHODS: This study developed an exercise course module through focus groups and in-depth interviews. A quasi-experimental design was conducted at Linong Park in Beitou, Taipei, involving an experimental group (EG, n=16) and a control group (CG, n=24). The intervention consisted of a 12-week program (90 minutes per week) supplemented by an online exercise promotion platform providing review videos for the EG. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 9 participants were lost to follow-up RESULTS: Paired t-test results showed that the EG improved in grip strength (26.17 ± 9.00 to 28.11 ± 7.51 kg, p=.124) and lower limb strength (Mpre=8.06, Mpost=8.14, p=.124), though these did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, the CG exhibited significant declines in grip strength (25.00 ± 6.80 to 23.70 ± 5.93 kg, p=.016), 3-meter walk speed (p=.001), and 6-meter walk distance (p<.001). Regarding physical activity, both groups showed higher post-test means, with the CG showing a significant increase in Vigorous Physical Activity (VPA)(p=.042). One-way ANOVA revealed that the EG’s post-test grip strength was significantly higher than that of the CG (F=4.406, p=.042). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the park-based exercise module is effective in preserving muscular strength and preventing functional decline in older adults. Although attrition limited the statistical power for some intra-group comparisons, the significant superiority of the EG in grip strength—a key indicator of overall health—underscores the value of integrating OFE with supportive digital platforms for geriatric health promotion.
Read CV Liang-Rong ChenECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP11
INTRODUCTION: Performance fatigability - a task-induced measurable decline in force or power - is a key indicator of early functional declines in aging populations. The 30s sit-to-stand (30sSTS) is widely used to assess lower-body function, yet it relies primarily on overall metrics and does not account for within-test changes that might be indicative of performance fatigability. Therefore, this study examined how sit-to-stand power, trunk kinematics and movement-phase durations changed throughout the 30sSTS to identify fatigue-related declines and explore differences by age and sex. METHODS: Community-dwelling middle-aged (n=93; 40–64 years) and older adults (n=102; ≥65 years) performed the 30sSTS with a trunk-mounted inertial measurement unit. Mean sit-to-stand power, trunk flexion range and durations of four movement subphases were extracted for the first and last 10 seconds to capture within-test changes. Linear mixed-effects models quantified temporal changes and tested main effects of age and sex, as well as interaction effects, to evaluate whether fatigability differed between groups. RESULTS: Throughout the 30-s, mean power declined (–11.6 W, p<.001), trunk flexion range increased (+1.37°, p<.001), sit-to-stand duration lengthened and stand-to-sit duration decreased (p<.001). Older adults produced less power (p≤.001) and spent more time in all subphases (p<.05). Females generated less power and demonstrated greater trunk flexion (p<.001). However, no significant interactions were observed. CONCLUSION: The 30sSTS can capture consistent fatigue-related shifts across mechanical, kinematic and temporal domains, yet these changes were small in well-functioning adults. Moreover, performance fatigability did not differ by age or sex. These findings suggest that the 30-second duration may be too short to induce meaningful fatigability in healthy populations. Future work should evaluate longer protocols, incorporate complementary physiological and functional measures and examine mobility-limited groups in whom fatigability may hold greater diagnostic value.
Read CV Max RiesbeckECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP11
INTRODUCTION: Body composition is a key factor in athletic success. However, relying on total body mass (TBM) is problematic because it mixes force-generating muscle with inert non-muscular mass. Biomechanical principles suggest that this distinction is vital: extra mass helps in tasks using external resistance but hinders tasks requiring rapid body displacement. This study used a three-level meta-analysis to quantify how the body composition–performance link changes based on the tissue index used, the task demands, and the sport category. METHODS: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was performed on 1,169 effect sizes from 201 studies involving 16,097 athletes. Body composition was classified as TBM, lean body mass (LBM), and muscle mass (MM). Performance domains included strength, speed/agility, power, aerobic, throwing, and sport-specific tasks. Moderator and interaction analyses examined the influence of composition type, performance domain, sport, sex, and age. Sensitivity analyses and multiple approaches to publication bias were applied to assess robustness. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 1,169 effect sizes from 201 studies involving 16,097 trained athletes. The aggregate pooled correlation was moderate (r = 0.337, 95% CI [0.273, 0.398], p < 0.001). A significant hierarchy emerged among composition indices (QM[2] = 28.71, p < 0.001): muscle mass (MM) showed the strongest association (r = 0.607), nearly tripling the predictive utility of total body mass (TBM, r = 0.255). A critical BMT x performance domain interaction was identified (LRT = 19.07, p = 0.039). In absolute strength tasks, correlation strengths for all indices converged (r = 0.47–0.55). However, in speed and agility tasks, a striking divergence occurred: TBM showed no association with performance (r = -0.003, p > 0.05), whereas MM remained a potent correlate (r = 0.570). Sport category was a robust moderator (p < 0.001), with strength and power sports exhibiting the highest effect sizes (r = 0.737, PI [0.565, 0.848]), representing the only category where the prediction interval did not cross zero. Gender analysis revealed higher associations in men (r = 0.342) compared to women (r = 0.220, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Body composition is a context-dependent correlate of performance. Interaction analysis supports the force-to-mass ratio as the key biomechanical mechanism: in tasks requiring rapid movement, non-functional mass acts as a parasitic load that increases inertial costs without adding to propulsion. Practitioners should prioritize tissue-specific assessment (e.g., DXA-derived MM) over scale weight. Setting individual targets based on tissue quality can optimize output while reducing weight-related anxiety and the risk of RED-S. These data offer an evidence-based framework for aligning morphology with the idiosyncratic mechanical demands of specific sports.
Read CV Lu WangECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP11