Muscle Strength and Functional Autonomy of Elderly Women

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the muscle strength levels and functional autonomy of elderly women with impaired muscle-skeletal system depending on the normal IGF-1 level. The target-population was composed by elderly women aged between 60 and 75 years (age: 67.79 ± 5.11 years, BMI: 28.01 ± 5.4), residents of an asylum, with IGF-1 levels within the normal values for the age (normo-IGF-1). Evaluations of the muscle strength (1-RM test) and the functional autonomy (GDLAM Protocol) in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL), and a measurement of basal serum levels of IGF-1 (Chemiluminescence method) were performed.

Inclusion criteria

• present a muscle-skeletal dysfunction, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, tendinitis, but being able to perform their ADL without help from others;
• did not practice physical activity for at least 12 months;
• provide a normal IGF-1 level for their age;

Exclusion criteria

• elderly women unfit to perform the strength and functional autonomy tests for the medical assessment;