Contributions of social participation to the dynamic balance, mobility, and muscle strength of different age groups of older people: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the contributions of social participation in health promotion groups and regular physical exercise programs to the physical and functional performance of different age groups of community-dwelling older adults. This is a cross-sectional study including 266 older adults. Physical and functional performances (dependent variables) were characterized based on dynamic balance (alternate step test), mobility (timed up and go test), upper (handgrip dynamometer) and lower limbs muscle strength (Sit-to-stand test). Participants were questioned about active social participation in primary care groups and in physical exercise programs. The data were analyzed by linear regressions. Among individuals aged over 80 years, women participated in less health promotion groups and both sexes practiced less physical exercise. Age combined with regular exercise significantly explained 18.7% of dynamic balance and 22.8% of lower limb muscle strength in women. Despite social participation, for men, age alone explained 11.9% of lower limb strength and 11.5% of mobility. Therefore, social participation in physical exercise programs was a protective factor for these physical and functional differences between women’s age groups. Among men, mobility and lower limb strength performance reduced with aging, regardless of social participation.

摘要 本研究旨在探究健康促进团体社交参与与规律体育锻炼项目对社区居住不同年龄组老年受试者的躯体与功能状态的影响贡献。本研究为横断面研究，共纳入266名老年受试者。躯体与功能表现（因变量（dependent variables））通过以下指标进行表征：动态平衡（dynamic balance）采用交替踏步试验（alternate step test）、移动能力（mobility）采用计时起立行走试验（timed up and go test）、上肢肌肉力量采用握力测力计（handgrip dynamometer）、下肢肌肉力量采用坐站试验（Sit-to-stand test）。研究人员对受试者进行问询，以了解其在初级保健团体中的主动社交参与情况，以及参与体育锻炼项目的相关信息。数据采用线性回归方法进行分析。在80岁以上的受试者中，女性参与健康促进团体的比例更低，且两性参与规律体育锻炼的情况均更少。在女性群体中，年龄与规律锻炼的联合因素可分别显著解释18.7%的动态平衡能力差异与22.8%的下肢肌肉力量差异。尽管存在社交参与因素，对于男性而言，仅年龄因素即可分别解释11.9%的下肢肌肉力量差异与11.5%的移动能力差异。由此可见，体育锻炼项目中的社交参与，是缓解女性不同年龄组间躯体与功能表现差异的保护因素。而在男性群体中，无论社交参与情况如何，其移动能力与下肢肌肉力量均会随衰老出现衰退。