significant risk of falls and fractures

A recent study has shown that low muscle powerassessed by the chair-up-and-sit test, is linked to an increased risk of falls, fractures, prolonged hospitalization and mortality in older people. The investigationpublished in the magazine Journal of Sport and Health Sciencehas been developed by two groups from the CIBER area of ​​Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES) led by Francisco José García García, from the Toledo University Hospital Complex, and Ignacio Ara Royo, from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, within the framework of the Toledo Healthy Aging Study.

“In retrospect we observe that Men with low muscle power had more incidences of falls and fractureswhile, in womenthis condition was associated with a increased risk of hip fractures” the authors explain. “In prospective analyses, women with lower muscle power showed a higher risk of hospitalizationand in both men and women, this condition was related to longer hospital stays and a higher risk of mortality,” they added.

How muscle power is evaluated

One of the key contributions of the study is the Using the free ‘PowerFrail’ appdeveloped by the research team. This ‘app’ allows you to estimate muscle power in seconds from the test of getting up and sitting down from a chair. This tool is accessible, free and easily applicable, both in clinical and community settings. The incorporation of this application in healthcare practice “could promote early detection and the adoption of preventive measures aimed at improve quality of life and optimize the utilization of health resources in older people” point out doctors García and Ara.

According to the researchers, Preventing frailty in older people is key to promote healthy and autonomous aging. Early detect risk factors such as low muscle power allows you to intervene in time with adapted physical exercise programs, adequate nutrition and clinical follow-upwhich can significantly reduce the occurrence of adverse events such as falls, fractures or hospital admissions.

‘PowerFrail’ is an application aimed at evaluating muscle power and frailty in older peoplewhile allowing us to provide, based on the data obtained, individualized physical training interventions for the improvement of these conditions. This e-Health tool, developed by CIBERFES researchers at the GENUD Toledo Group (University of Castilla-La Mancha – UCLM) and the Toledo University Hospital Complex, is available for Android and IOS devices.