Ethnic differences in the relationship between step cadence and physical function in older adults

McBride, P., Yates, T., Henson, J., Davies, M., Gill, J. , Celis-Morales, C. , Khunti, K., Maylor, B., Rowlands, A. and Edwardson, C. (2022) Ethnic differences in the relationship between step cadence and physical function in older adults. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(10), pp. 1183-1190. (doi: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2057013) (PMID:35363123) (PMCID:PMC9038174)

Abstract

This study investigated associations between step cadence and physical function in healthy South Asian (SA) and White European (WE) older adults, aged ≥60. Participants completed the 60-s Sit-to-Stand (STS-60) test of physical function. Free-living stepping was measured using the activPAL3™. Seventy-one WEs (age = 72 ± 5, 53% male) and 33 SAs (age = 71 ± 5, 55% male) were included. WEs scored higher than SAs in the STS-60 (23 vs 20 repetitions, p = 0.045). Compared to WEs, SAs had significantly lower total and brisk (≥100 steps/min) steps (total: 8971 vs 7780 steps/day, p = 0.041; brisk: 5515 vs 3723 steps/day, p = 0.001). In WEs, 1000 brisk steps and each decile higher proportion of steps spent brisk stepping were associated with STS-60 (β = 0.72 95% CI 0.05, 1.38 and β = 1.01 95% CI 0.19, 1.82, respectively), with associations persisting across mean peak 1 min (β = 1.42 95% CI 0.12, 2.71), 30 min (β = 1.71 95% CI 0.22, 3.20), and 60 min (β = 2.16 95% CI 0.62, 3.71) stepping periods. Associations were not observed in SAs. Ethnic differences in associations between ambulation and physical function may exist in older adults which warrant further investigationi.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The research was supported by the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative in partnership with the Medical Research Council (grant number MR/K025090/1) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Celis, Dr Carlos and Gill, Professor Jason
• Authors: McBride, P., Yates, T., Henson, J., Davies, M., Gill, J., Celis-Morales, C., Khunti, K., Maylor, B., Rowlands, A., and Edwardson, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Journal of Sports Sciences
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0264-0414
• ISSN (Online): 1466-447X
• Published Online: 01 April 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Author(s).
• First Published: First published in Journal of Sports Sciences 40(10): 1183-1190
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
169378		Sedentary behaviour in older adults: investigating a new therapeutic paradigm	Jason Gill	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MR/K025090/1 RM65G0016	Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences