Aitor Santisteban

Low- vs high-load power training on muscle quality, functional performance, and multi-omic profiles in frail older adults: protocol for the FrailPow randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Isometric strength training has the advantage of improving musculoskeletal properties, neuromuscular function and health biomarkers compared with dynamic strength training. This study aimed to analyze the effects of short-term isometric strength training on pain, body composition, and biomarkers of health in young adults. Methods: This was a pre-post experimental study with isometric training period. The training period was carried out for 12 weeks with a single session per week, with a weekly training volume of 6 minutes. The study sample consisted of 22 students (20.5 years ± 1.37) of both sexes (15 males and 7 females). The maximum isometric force test (in Newton meters) using the MedX lumbar extension and knee extension machines. The InBody 770 were used for body composition analysis, visual analog scale for pain and glycated hemoglobin values were measured using the Quo-Lab. Results: Analysis of changes in pain showed a significant improvement in hip pain in the entire group (p≤0.05), with no other significant changes observed in the other pain scales (0.05), phase angle (0.02), glycated haemoglobin (0.00) and lumbar strength (<0.05) measured or segregating the sample by sex. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that a short duration strength training intervention can help to improve pain at anatomical points, reduce HbA1c levels, finding trends for improvement in numerous body composition variables. Highlighting the significant change in phase angle, a variable with a promising approach in the more accurate and comprehensive study of both body composition and metabolic health.

This study is focused on the fact that in the context of increasing global aging and cancer diagnoses, additional challenges arise in clinical care. Adequate functionality and body composition are key to coping with antineoplastic treatment, which can lead to better treatment tolerance, survival, and quality of life. This is a cross-sectional comparative study focused on the assessment and comparison of body composition and functionality between cancer patients and a reference population, with the aim of establishing meaningful baseline values. Techniques such as manual dynamometry, the Five-Times Sit-to-Stand test, and bioimpedance were used to collect data from 374 oncologic patients and 1244 reference individuals. The results reveal significant disparities in functionality and body composition among participants, and provide age group-specific adjusted baseline values for those diagnosed with cancer. These findings may have crucial clinical implications for applying particular cut-off points designed for this population group, which makes the assessment process faster and more accurate, enhances the capacity of medical personnel to act quickly, and improves the management of frailty in cancer patients.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to develop an equation for predicting performance in 42.2 km (MRT) using pacing and packing behavior, age group and previous 21.1 km time as possible explanatory variables. Methods: 1571 men and 251 female runners who took part in the Valencia Marathon and Half-Marathon were selected to display the regression models. Stepwise regression analysis showed as explanatory variables for MRT: pacing behavior, age group, and time in 21.1 km. Results: The analysis showed four regression models to estimate accurately MRT based principally on athletes previous performance in half-marathon and pacing behavior for men (R²= 0.72–0.88; RMSE= 4:03–8:31 [min:s]). For women, it was suggested a multiple linear regression for estimating MRT (R² 0.95; RSE= 8:06 [min:s]) based on previous performance in half-marathon and pacing behavior. The subsequent concordance analysis showed no significant differences between four of the total regressions with real time in the marathon (p>0.05). Conclusion: The present results suggest that even and negative pacing behavior and a better time in 21.1 km, in the previous weeks of the marathon, might accurately predict the MRT. At the same time, nomadic packing behavior was the one that reported the best performance. On the other hand, although the age group variable might partially explain the final performance, it should be included with caution in the final model because of differences in sample distribution, causing an overestimation or underestimation of the final time.

Objetivo: Proporcionar valores de referencia de la Velocidad de la Marcha (VM) de cuatro metros en personas mayores de 65 años en el País Vasco y establecer puntos de corte para una detección temprana de la fragilidad en la práctica clínica. Diseño: Este es un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en el que se recogen valores de la prueba de VM de cuatro metros a 1,871 personas adultas mayores de 65 años, para luego extraer el tiempo de la prueba (TP) y la VM en metros por segundo. Resultados: Los puntos de corte variaron de 2,99 segundos a 3,95 segundos en TP y de 0,89 a 0,70 en VM en mujeres y de 2,66 segundos a 3,85 segundos en TP y de 0,99 a 0,73 en VM en los hombres. Los resultados de ANOVA, muestran que existe diferencia estadísticamente significativa en TP para grupos de edad (F =41,51 - p<,01) y sexo (F = 15,55 – p<,01) y en VM para edad (F =39,32 - p<,01) y sexo (F = 25,67 - p<,01). La disminución en las dos variables, resaltan que el parámetro del TP aumenta con el paso de los años un 32,97% y el valor de VM disminuye un 21,42% respectivamente, valores clínicamente relevantes. Conclusiones: Los datos muestran que los hombres consiguieron mejores puntuaciones en todos los rangos de edad respecto a las mujeres en la prueba de VM de 4 metros. La prueba de VM de cuatro metros es sencilla y aplicable en atención primaria para la detección temprana de fragilidad. Objetive: To provide reference values for four-metre Gait Speed (GS) in people over 65 years of age in the Basque Country and to establish cut-off points for early detection of frailty in clinical practice. Design: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, in which four-metre GS test values were collected from 1,871 adults over 65 years of age, and then the test time (TT) and GS in metres per second were extracted. Results: The cut-off points ranged from 2.99 seconds to 3.95 seconds in TT and 0.89 to 0.70 in GS in females and from 2.66 seconds to 3.85 seconds in TT and 0.99 to 0.73 in GS in males. ANOVA results show that there is a statistically significant difference in TT for age groups (F =41.51 - p<.01) and sex (F = 15.55 - p<.01) and in GS for age (F =39.32 - p<.01) and sex (F = 25.67 - p<.01). The decrease in the two variables, highlighting that the TT parameter increases over the years by 32.97% and the GS value decreases by 21.42% respectively, clinically relevant values. Conclusions: The data show that men achieved better scores in all age ranges than women in the 4-metre GS test. The four-metre GS test is simple and applicable in primary care for the early detection of frailty.