Relationship Between Force Steadiness and Functionality in Older Adults: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Maria Alejandra Camacho-Villa1,2, Manuel A Giráldez-García1, Marta Sevilla-Sanchez1
1Performance and Health Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|April 3, 2025
Summary
Force steadiness (FS) moderately relates to physical task performance in older adults. This systematic review highlights FS
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Force steadiness (FS) is crucial for motor control, but its precise link to physical function in older adults is not well-established.
- Aging is associated with declines in motor control and physical function, impacting daily activities and independence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the relationship between force steadiness and physical task performance in older adults.
- To investigate this relationship for both upper and lower limbs, considering healthy and unhealthy populations.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive systematic search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, Ovid, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) up to February 2024.
- Inclusion of observational and longitudinal studies with objective measures of task performance.
- Meta-analysis using robust variance estimation to synthesize findings from 15 studies (out of 1293 screened).
Main Results:
- A moderate, significant positive correlation between FS and upper limb task performance (r=0.58, p<0.01) with negligible heterogeneity.
- A moderate, significant positive correlation between FS and lower limb task performance (r=0.45, p<0.01) with moderate heterogeneity.
- 13 studies had a moderate to high risk of bias, and publication bias was noted for upper limb studies.
Conclusions:
- Force steadiness demonstrates a notable association with physical function in both upper and lower limbs of older adults.
- Clinical practice should consider FS, but improved measurement methods are needed.
- Further research should address the identified risks of bias and publication bias to strengthen findings.
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