Acceleration parameters in sit-to-stand (STS) movements are useful for measuring lower-limb function in older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acceleration in STS movements and physical function and the test-retest reliability of acceleration parameters in older adults. We performed cross-sectional analyses on 244 older adults including 107 men (mean age: 77.4 ± 4.7) and 137 women (mean age: 75.6 ± 5.3). Four acceleration parameters were measured in STS movements: maximum acceleration (MA), maximum velocity (MV), maximum power (MP), and stand-up time (ST). Good intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC > 0.70) were observed for all parameters. For the acceleration parameters, MA, MV, and MP were relatively strongly associated with the 5-time STS test (men: r = −0.36~−0.47; women: r = −0.37~−0.45) and the timed up and go test (men: r = −0.39~0.47, women: r = −0.43~−0.51): MP was also strongly associated with grip strength (men: r = 0.48, women: r = 0.43). All acceleration parameters were poorer in participants reporting mobility limitations than in those reporting no mobility limitations. These findings support the usefulness of sensor-based STS measurement. The system is expected to be useful in various settings where care prevention is addressed.

Purpose: To investigate the association between comorbidities associated with diabetes and higher-level functional status as well as the relationship between comorbidities associated with diabetes and higher-level functional status in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have better social networks. Methods: Participants were outpatients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 65 years, excluding individuals with severe cardiovascular or respiratory illness, hyperglycaemic crisis, type 1 diabetes, or diabetic foot. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was used to evaluate the higher-level functional status. A TMIG-IC score of ≤ 9, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) ≤ 4, intellectual activity or social role ≤ 3 were defined as decline in higher-level functional status. The comorbidities investigated included peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, cognitive impairment, depression, frailty, sarcopenia, low muscle strength, stroke, heart disease, and arthritis. Results: The analysis included 198 patients (mean age 75.9 ± 5.7 years, male 60.1%). After adjusting for potential confounders, depression was associated with TMIG-IC (Prevalence ratio (PR) 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44–3.82), low muscle strength was associated with IADL (PR 2.85, 95% CI 1.30–6.27), and frailty was associated with intellectual activity (PR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10–1.74). In the model with social networks added as a confounder, the relationship between depression or low muscle strength and higher-level functional status was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Comorbidities of depression and low muscle strength for older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus increase the risk of malfunctioning of higher-level functional status. Increased interactions with family, friends and neighbours may reduce this event.

Resistance exercise improves daily glycemic control. Low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movements and tonic force generation (LST) is a resistance exercise protocol that can increase skeletal muscle mass and strength without considerable physical burden; however, its effect on glycemic variability is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LST on short-term glycemic variability, expressed as the M-value, in healthy individuals. We recruited 20 healthy subjects (mean age: 27.9 ± 3.9 years) with normal glucose tolerance, and subjects were randomly assigned to the control (n = 10) or LST (n = 10) groups. Subjects in the LST group performed the resistance exercise with 40–50% of the one-repetition maximum for 40 min. All subjects wore a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring system and a triaxial accelerometer, and their daily glycemic variability and physical activity were measured. One hour after the intervention, in the LST group, the variability of blood glucose levels was significantly decreased compared to the control group (M-values in the LST group: pre 3.5 ± 6.2, post 2.7 ± 2.7, p = 0.575; M-values in the control group: pre 0.4 ± 0.7, post 2.7 ± 2.0, p = 0.017). However, there were no differences in total physical activity and daily glycemic control between groups. The findings of this study suggest that LST improves short-term glycemic variability in healthy subjects.

Acceleration parameters in sit-to-stand (STS) movements are useful for measuring lower-limb function in older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acceleration in STS movements and physical function and the test-retest reliability of acceleration parameters in older adults. We performed cross-sectional analyses on 244 older adults including 107 men (mean age:77.4±4.7) and 137 women (mean age: 75.6±5.3). Four acceleration parameters were measured in STS movements: maximum acceleration (MA), maximum velocity (MV), maximum power (MP), and stand-up time (ST). Good intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC>0.70) were observed for all parameters. For the acceleration parameters, MA, MV, and MP were relatively strongly associated with the 5-time STS test (men: r=-0.36~-0.47; women: r=-0.37~-0.45) and the Timed up and Go test (men: r=-0.39~0.47, women: r=-0.43~-0.51): MP was also strongly associated with grip strength (men: r=0.48, women: r=0.43). All acceleration parameters were poorer in participants reporting mobility limitations than in those reporting no mobility limitations. These findings support the usefulness of sensor-based STS measurement. The system is expected to be useful in various settings where care prevention is addressed.

Background/Objectives: In Japan, the number of older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is rapidly increasing; however, the impact of DM on higher-level functional capacity in this population is unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the characteristics of higher functional capacity in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The participants included outpatients with T2DM receiving care at a general hospital and community-dwelling older adults without DM (both groups aged ≥ 65 years) in Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC) were used to evaluate higher-level functional capacity. We compared the higher-level functional capacities of the two groups after propensity score matching to ensure homogeneity in background factors. Results: After propensity score matching, 131 individuals each from a group of older patients with T2DM and a group of community-dwelling older adults without DM were included (mean age: 76.6 ± 5.6 and 76.1 ± 5.4 years, respectively; male sex: 54.2% and 52.7%, respectively). The older patients with T2DM had higher average instrumental activities of daily living scores (4.8 vs. 4.6; p < 0.01) and lower average intellectual activity scores (3.4 vs. 3.8; p < 0.01) on the TMIG-IC, average JST-IC scores (10.3 vs. 11.6; p < 0.01), and average social engagement scores (1.0 vs. 2.2; p < 0.01) compared to the community-dwelling older adults without DM. Conclusions: Older outpatients with T2DM demonstrated poorer intellectual activity and social engagement than community-dwelling older adults without DM. Therefore, it may be necessary to focus on preventive interventions to support higher-level functional capacities in this population.