Question: 

The decline in aerobic capacity and muscle strength is reported to begin around the age of 30. The present study investigated whether there may be an interrelation between endurance capacity, muscle strength and daily living skills in persons over 70 years to find predictors for daily living skills in the elderly.

Methodology: 

Twenty-five healthy sedentary men (72.5±2.7 years, body-mass-index: 26.9±3.2 kg/m²) participated in this study. They performed a maximal spiro-ergometric cycling test (WHO-scheme) until physical exhaustion. In addition, maximal isometric strength of the upper (hand dynamometer) and lower body (leg press) was assessed. The timed-up-and-go test and the repeated chair stand were carried out to examine the daily living skills.

Results: 

Significant correlations were found between maximal ergometric cycling workload and upper and lower strength parameters (r=0.565–0.657). Although relative maximal oxygen consumption correlated with maximal ergometric cycling workload, there was no significant correlation between maximum oxygen uptake and strength parameters. A significant correlation was found between relative maximal oxygen consumption and repeated-chair stand (r=0.406).

Conclusions: 

Muscle strength seems not to correlate with cardiorespiratory fitness as assessed by bicycle ergometry. Cardiorespiratory fitness as assessed during cycling ergometry may be a more precise predictor of daily living skills than physical strength in the elderly. This may be taken into account when developing health concepts for the elderly population.