Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez

Prevalencia de la incontinencia urinaria y su relación con el sedentarismo en España

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in the elderly Spanish population of both sexes and identify a possible relationship between physical activity habits and the presence of urinary incontinence in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used data from 8146 individuals older than 60 years (age range, 60-94 years), from which data from a 15-year cohort were obtained. Of these, 4745 (58.2%) were women and 3401 (41.8%) were men. We analysed the presence of urinary incontinence, physical activity habits and the influence of other variables such as sex, age, weight and body mass index. RESULTS We detected a prevalence of urinary incontinence of 15% for the women and 11.6% for the men. Those with urinary incontinence had a greater average age, weight and body mass index than the healthy participants. At the same time, the patient group with incontinence showed more sedentary habits compared with the healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS A strong relationship was observed between the body mass index and prevalence of urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence was also related to attitudinal aspects such as physical inactivity, a behaviour that predisposes the elderly to developing incontinence. For the first time, we observed a reduction in the prevalence of incontinence compared with previous studies.

Balance Training in Elderly Women Using Public Parks

This study evaluates the effects of a balance training program developed in public parks on functionality and general state of health in elderly women. It was a randomized controlled trial. Women older than 65 years (n = 28; 68.5 ± 2.9) participated in a balance training program that lasted 6 weeks, with sessions taking place twice a week (12 exercises/session, 50 min). Balance was analyzed by the Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up & Go Test. The generic health status was measured by the SF-12 Health Survey. These tests showed statistically significant differences in the experimental group (p < .05). Public parks are adequate installations for developing balance.

Comparisons of the Health Benefits of Strength Training, Aqua-Fitness, and Aerobic Exercise for the Elderly

Objective To compare strength training, aqua-fitness, and aerobic exercise programs to discern the differences in the benefits achieved by each of the activities in older people. Design Double-blind randomized trial. Setting Controlled clinical environment. Participants 108 people: 54 female paired with a male of the same age (average age of 65.5 ± 5.6 years). Interventions Three exercise programs (aqua-fitness, aerobic exercise, and strength training) for six months. Main Outcome Measures Body Mass Index, Senior Fitness Test (which evaluated functional fitness), and the SF-12 Health Survey. Results Men showed greater positive changes in the aerobic exercise group for general self-perceived mental health, leg strength, and flexibility of legs and arms. The largest improvements in overall self-perceived physical health and upper limb strength were in the men of the strength training group. The women participants in the strength training group obtained greater benefits, especially in self-perceived mental and physical health and in the strength of the four limbs. Conclusions To maximise benefits, older people, in general, may want to consider participating in aerobic activity. Furthermore, older women would benefit greatly, both emotionally and physically, from exercise that includes strength training.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Functional Limitations during Aging in a Representative Sample of Spanish Population

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the prevalence of functional limitations; and to examine associations between Body Mass Index, age, gender and functional limitations, in a Spanish National representative sample. Patients & methods: This cross-sectional study was based on data drawn from all the participants in the 2014 European Health Survey over 65 years old (N = 5,970). Results: Data showed the men had better perceptions of their functional limitations than women. In the four variables analyzed, men reported fewer limitations than women. Body Mass Index, age and gender were significant predictors of functional limitations. Over 90 years, Body Mass Index was a significant predictor of functional limitation for all activities. Conclusions: Women aged 75 years and older and men starting from 90 years showed high difficulty walking, climbing stairs, bending and carrying loads of 5 kilogrames. In fact gender as a much more important predictor of functional limitations than Body Mass Index.

A comparison of three physical activity programs for health and fitness tested with older women: Benefits of aerobic activity, aqua fitness, and strength training

ABSTRACT Inactivity has been associated with decreased quality of life of older people, and many physical activity programs are encouraged. However, the heterogeneity of the different exercise programs available is well recognized. The objective was to compare three physical activity programs (strength training, aqua fitness, and aerobic exercise) to discern the differences in the benefits achieved by each of them in older women over a period of 6 months. For that, a double-blind randomized trial sorted 347 women over 50 years old into three groups of exercise programs; they completed three sessions of evaluation that included the measurement of weight and body mass index and used the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and SF-12 questionnaire. A t-test for related samples compared the evolution of each group, and ANOVA statistic was used to compare the effect of the different exercise programs. The results showed that women should consider performing aerobic activity up to age 60. After that age, aerobic activity or strength training can provide greater benefits.

Validity and reliability of a tool for accelerometric assessment of static balance in women

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors of balance and items explaining each of them and then, using a model based on accelerometric variables, to develop an easy-to-apply tool for assessing static balance. Materials and methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in a random sample of 145 adult women (63.8 ± 8.4 years). Participants performed the following randomised tests of static equilibrium tests: monopodal balance with eyes closed; bipodal balance on mat with eyes open; bipodal balance with eyes closed; monopodal balance with eyes open and monopodal balance on mat with eyes closed. Each test was performed three times and an average calculated. Results: The resulting scale had three factors: monopodal balance on mat with eyes open, with four items; monopodal balance with eyes open, with four items; monopodal balance with eyes closed, with three items. Conclusions: This tool is easy to apply and analyse, and presents good criterion validity for explaining the state of static balance based on the accelerations of the centre of mass.