Intensity Matters for Musculoskeletal Health: A Cross-Sectional Study on Movement Behaviors of Older Adults from High-Income Scottish and Low-Income South African Communities

Ilaria Pina, Amy E. Mendham, Simone A. Tomaz, Julia H. Goedecke, Lisa K. Micklesfield, Naomi E. Brooks, Iain J. Gallagher, Rachel Crockett, Paul Dudchenko and Angus M. Hunter
Additional contact information
Ilaria Pina: Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Amy E. Mendham: MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Simone A. Tomaz: Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Julia H. Goedecke: MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Lisa K. Micklesfield: MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Naomi E. Brooks: Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Iain J. Gallagher: Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Rachel Crockett: Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Paul Dudchenko: Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Angus M. Hunter: Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate differences in physical activity (PA) patterns and the associations between objectively measured 24-h movement behaviors and musculoskeletal measures (muscle strength, muscle mass, physical performance, and bone mineral density) in a high-income and a low-income community. This cross-sectional study recruited independent living older adults aged 60–85 years from high-income Scottish (n = 150) and low-income South African (n = 138) settings. Participants completed demographic and health questionnaires, and testing included body composition and bone mineral density (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), physical performance (grip strength, gait speed), and PA (accelerometry). Participants accumulated similar amounts of weekly total PA, however, the Scottish cohort engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB), while the South African cohort spent more time sleeping and in light intensity PA (LPA). From compositional data analysis, more time spent in MVPA relative to the other movement behaviors was positively associated with higher muscle mass ( p < 0.001) and strength ( p = 0.001) in the Scottish cohort. Conversely, more time spent in MVPA was associated with faster gait speed ( p < 0.001) and greater hip bone mineral density ( p = 0.011) in the South African cohort. Our findings confirm the beneficial role of MVPA in both high- and low-income cohorts, however, the relationship MVPA had with components of musculoskeletal health in older adults differed between settings.

Keywords: sarcopenia; osteoporosis; ageing; compositional analysis; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; bone mineral density; grip strength; gait speed; accelerometry; muscle mass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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