Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, School of Health and Social Studies, Jyväskylä, Finland.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020 Sep 16;75(9):e103-e110. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glaa166.
Fatigue related to task standardized by duration and intensity, termed fatigability, could manifest as shortening of activity bouts throughout the day causing daily activity to accumulate in a more fragmented pattern. Our purpose was to study the association of activity fragmentation with physical and mental dimensions of fatigability.
A cross-sectional study of 485 community-dwelling 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old people using a thigh-worn accelerometer for 3-7 days. Activity fragmentation was studied as Active-to-Sedentary Transition Probability for 2 operational definitions of physical activity: accelerations equivalent to at least light physical activity and for upright posture. Physical fatigability was assessed as perceived exertion fatigability, performance fatigability severity, and with the Physical Fatigue Subscale of the Situational Fatigue Scale. Mental fatigability was assessed with the Mental Fatigue Subscale of the Situational Fatigue Scale and as a decrease in perceived mental alertness after a 6-minute walk test.
Higher activity fragmentation was associated with higher self-reported physical fatigability, perceived exertion fatigability, and performance fatigability severity, independent of total activity minutes (β = 0.13-0.33, p < .05 for all). Higher activity fragmentation was not associated with mental fatigability in the fully adjusted models. The associations with fatigability indices were similar for both activity fragmentation indicators. Associations of activity fragmentation and performance fatigability severity were similar also among those with the highest intensity-based physical activity volume.
The findings provide support that studying fragmented activity patterns can be useful in identifying those at risk for high fatigability, even among those with relatively high physical activity level.
与持续时间和强度标准化的任务相关的疲劳，称为易疲劳性，可能表现为活动时间缩短，导致日常活动更加碎片化。我们的目的是研究活动碎片化与疲劳的身体和心理维度的关系。
对 485 名居住在社区的 75、80 和 85 岁的老年人进行横断面研究，使用 thigh-worn 加速度计进行 3-7 天的测量。使用两种身体活动的操作定义研究活动碎片化：加速相当于至少轻度身体活动和直立姿势。身体疲劳性通过感知疲劳疲劳性、表现疲劳性严重程度和情境疲劳量表的身体疲劳分量表进行评估。心理疲劳性通过情境疲劳量表的心理疲劳分量表和 6 分钟步行测试后感知心理警觉度下降进行评估。
较高的活动碎片化与较高的自我报告的身体疲劳性、感知疲劳疲劳性和表现疲劳性严重程度独立相关，与总活动时间无关（β=0.13-0.33，所有 p<0.05）。在完全调整的模型中，较高的活动碎片化与心理疲劳性无关。对于两种活动碎片化指标，与疲劳指数的关联相似。活动碎片化和表现疲劳性严重程度的关联在高强度身体活动量最高的人群中也相似。
研究结果表明，研究碎片化的活动模式有助于识别那些易疲劳的人，即使是那些身体活动水平相对较高的人。
