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. 2017 Nov 22;6(11):e226.
doi: 10.2196/resprot.8196.

The Effect of Aging on Physical Performance Among Elderly Manual Workers: Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Study

Kristoffer Larsen Norheim  1   2 , Jakob Hjort Bønløkke  2 , Afshin Samani  1 , Øyvind Omland  2 , Pascal Madeleine  1
Affiliations

The Effect of Aging on Physical Performance Among Elderly Manual Workers: Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Study

Kristoffer Larsen Norheim et al. JMIR Res Protoc. .

Abstract

Background: In 2012, the Danish Parliament decided to increase retirement age. Unfortunately, elderly people working in a physically demanding environment may be rendered unable to retain the ability to adequately perform the physical requirements of their jobs, due to age-related decreases in physical performance. Therefore, increasing the retirement age may not necessarily lead to the goal of keeping everybody in the labor market for a longer time. To date, our knowledge about the variations in physical performance of the elderly workforce is limited.

Objective: In this cross-sectional study we seek to investigate the effects of aging on physical performance among elderly manual workers.

Methods: Approximately 100 Danish manual workers between 50 and 70 years of age will be recruited. The main measurement outcomes include: (1) inflammatory status from blood samples; (2) body composition; (3) lung function; (4) static and dynamic balance; (5) reaction time, precision, and movement variability during a hammering task; (6) handgrip strength, rate of force development, and force tracking; (7) estimated maximal rate of oxygen consumption; and (8) back mobility. Additionally, information regarding working conditions, physical activity levels, and health status will be assessed with a questionnaire.

Results: Data collection is expected to take place between autumn 2017 and spring 2018.

Conclusions: This study will increase the knowledge regarding variations in physical performance in the elderly workforce and may identify potential workplace hazards. Moreover, this study might shed light on the potentially problematic decision to increase retirement age for all Danish citizens.

Keywords: balance; body composition; force tracking; functional capacity; inflammation; older workers; spirometry.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Test order and estimated time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustration of experimental set-up during the hammering task.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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