RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CELLULAR, BONE AND MUSCLE HEALTH INDICATORS ON POSTURAL CONTROL OF ELDERLY WOMEN UNDER SELF-REPORTED FATIGUE

• Grant number: 24/02442-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei
• Grantee: Natacha de Lima Gervazoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Outcomes such as cellular integrity, body composition, bone health, and muscle strength (MS) appear to be related to postural control (PC), affecting the risk of falls, an event that causes serious impacts on the health of the elderly and the general public. Exploring the relationships between these outcomes and PC during activities of life that can cause fatigue is vital, given the fatiguing aspect that can be present during the daily lives of the elderly. Studies of this nature can provide investigation and creation of specific prevention and intervention strategies, in addition to enabling hypotheses related to the profile of elderly people who have greater PC impairment and, consequently, greater risk of falls. Objective: To analyze the relationship between indicators of cellular, bone health, and MS on the PC of elderly women in a condition of self-reported fatigue induced by the 6-minute step test and to identify whether the possible relationships are attenuated by the levels of physical activity. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study that will evaluate elderly women (¿ 60 years). Three stages will be carried out: I) sample characterization; functional tests; assessment of FM using isokinetic, digital and manual dynamometry; familiarization with the step test and assessment of physical activity levels using an accelerometer; II) assessment of body composition, which will also allow analysis of bone geometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; III) assessment of CP using a force platform at rest and in AF. The relationships between the outcomes and absolute variations in CP will be analyzed using the Pearson or Spearman correlation test according to normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov). For significant relationships, unadjusted and adjusted linear regression (age, body mass index and physical activity levels) will be performed. The potential mediating role of physical activity levels in the relationships between the outcomes and CP will also be investigated. The statistical significance adopted will be p<0.05.