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A Cross-longitudinal Study of Physical Fitness in Ontario Dairy Farmers, Aged Fifty Years and Over

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

C.D. Moore  and
S. Pfeiffer
C.D. Moore
Affiliation:
School of Human Biology, University oF Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1
S. Pfeiffer
Affiliation:
School of Human Biology, University oF Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1
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Abstract

To study the effects of occupational activity on age-related changes in fitness, 36 full time dairy farmers, aged 50–68years, were studied. Stature, weight, four skinfold thicknesses and hand grip strength were measured. Maximal oxygen consumption was estimated from the CAFT, a submaximal bench stepping test. Twenty-one of the subjects had been tested two years earlier as well. Approached cross-sectionally, the farmers show greater fat-free mass, higher grip strength values, and higher O2 max values than age-matched reference groups (STF and Nutrition Canada). Changes over two years in the sample subset include a marked decline in grip strength, anda decline in O2 which is consistent with that seen in other longitudinal studies. Hence, while initial fitness may be higher in this occupationally active group, the decline in function with age is comparable in magnitude to that seen in less active men.

Résumé

Cette étude a été mise au point dans le but d'examiner les effets produits par l'activité professionnelle sur les changements reliés à l'âge au niveau de la condition physique. Le groupe choisi comportait 16 fermiers oeuvrant à temps plein dans le domaine de l'industrie laitière, tous âgés de 50 à 65 ans. Les chercheurs ont mesuré la taille, le poids, l'épaisseur de quatre plis de chair et la force d'étreinte d'une main. Ils se sont basés sur le Physitest aérobie canadien, une épreuve d'endurance physique sous-maximale, pour évaluer la consommation maximale d'oxygène. Quelques 21 des participants avaient été soumis à ce test deux ans auparavant. En examinant les données d'une façon représentative, les chercheurs ont notés que les fermiers possédaient une masse sans matières grasses plus considérable, que leur force d'étreinte était plus puissante et que leur valeur maximale VO2 était plus élevé en comparaison avec des groupes de références contenant des personnes du même âge (STF et Nutrition Canada). Au cours de deux ans, les changements dénotés dans le groupe sous-ensemble incluent une diminution marquée au niveau de la force d'étreinte et une réduction du VO2. Ces changements se conforment aux observations notées dans d'autres études longitudinales. Par conséquent, tandis qu'à l'origine la forme physique peut être supérieure dans ce groupe actif professionnellement, la diminution fonctionnelle reliée à l'âge est néanmoins comparable en ampleur à celle démontrée par des hommes moins actifs.

Keywords

farmingphysical fitnessVO2 max
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 1987 , pp. 189 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1987

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