Research impact: Ageing and frailty
A body of work on the biomechanics and physiology of older muscles and bones is informing national and international guidelines to combat ageing and improve quality of later life.
Research: Ageing and frailty
Research summary
Researchers at Manchester Met are at the forefront of international research into the biomechanics, epidemiology, physiology and pathology of musculoskeletal (MSK) health.
Our studies assess the effectiveness of physical behaviours including exercise to keep people healthy across the life course, with a particular focus on reducing sedentary behaviour and combating:
- sarcopenia
- osteoporosis
- falls
- fractures
- frailty
Characterising MSK health in different populations and tracing age-related changes, our research findings include:
- maintaining a physically active lifestyle with specific exercises and activities helps to preserve muscle mass, physical capability and health
- replacing sedentary behaviour with only light intensity activity can lead to the maintenance of bone health in older adults
- even highly competitive endurance runners experience significant age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, bone mass and balance
- ageing effects can be slowed down/reversed in most physiological systems by strength training
Statistic
Research impact
Research impact
Our work provided evidence for the latest UK Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines that will steer public health initiatives and recommendations for the next five to ten years.
Data indicates significant reach and sustained public and professional engagement with the guidance.
The updated guidelines average 200 views per day on the GOV.UK website generating an estimated 73,000 unique views per year (compared to 60,000 for the 2011 version).
Survey data among UK general practitioners (GPs) suggests:
- 20% (approximately 9,000 GPs according to the General Practice Workforce dashboard) have good awareness and knowledge about the guidelines
- 40% use the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire to inform their advice to patients
Research also informed policy reports by the World Health Organization and the Canadian Chief Public Health Officer that underpin public health initiatives and community investments in other countries.
The extensive body of work has also shaped local evidence-based policy and healthy ageing provision across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. It has been adopted into practice by the British Master Athletic Federation that now advises older athletes to engage in strengthening and balance training to prevent falls and injury.
Research outputs
Academic papers
- Bauer, JM, Verlaan, S, Bautmans, I, Brandt, K, Donini, LM, Maggio, M, McMurdo, MET, Mets, T, Seal, C, Wijers, SL, Ceda, GP, De Vito, G, Donders, G, Drey, M, Greig, C, Holmbäck, U, Narici, M, McPhee, J, Poggiogalle, E, Power, D, Scafoglieri, A, Schultz, R, Sieber, CC and Cederholm, T (2015) Effects of a Vitamin D and Leucine-Enriched Whey Protein Nutritional Supplement on Measures of Sarcopenia in Older Adults, the PROVIDE Study: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2015 Sep;16(9):740-747
- Leightley, D, Yap, MH, Coulson, J, Piasecki, M, Cameron, J, Barnouin, Y, Tobias, J and McPhee, JS (2017) Postural stability during standing balance and sit-to-stand in master athlete runners compared with nonathletic old and young adults. Journal of aging and physical activity, 25(3):345-350
- Maden-Wilkinson, T, Degens, H, Jones, DA and McPhee, JS (2013) Comparison of MRI and DXA to measure muscle size and age-related atrophy in thigh muscles Journal of musculoskeletal and neuronal interactions, 13(3):320-8
- Onambele-Pearson, G, Wullems, J, Doody, C, Ryan, D, Morse, C and Degens, H (2019) Influence of Habitual Physical Behavior – Sleeping, Sedentarism, Physical Activity – On Bone Health in Community-Dwelling Older People Frontiers in physiology, 10
- Reijnierse, EM, Trappenburg, MC, Leter, MJ, Blauw, GJ, Sipilä, S, Sillanpää, E, Narici, MV, Hogrel, JY, Butler-Browne, G, McPhee, JS and Gapeyeva, H (2015) The impact of different diagnostic criteria on the prevalence of sarcopenia in healthy elderly participants and geriatric outpatients. Gerontology, 61(6):491-496
- Piasecki, J, McPhee, JS, Hannam, K, Deere, KC, Elhakeem, A, Piasecki, M, Degens, H, Tobias, JH and Ireland, A (2018) Hip and spine bone mineral density are greater in master sprinters, but not endurance runners compared with non-athletic controls. Archives of osteoporosis, 13(1):72.
- Wüst, RC, Morse, CI, de Haan, A, Rittweger, J, Jones, DA and Degens, H (2008) Skeletal muscle properties and fatigue resistance in relation to smoking history. Eur J Appl Physiol 104(1):103-110
Research team
External funding
With funding from
Erasmus Mundus Association
Medical Research Council
European Commission
Research partners
University of the Third Age
British Masters Athletics
Contact
Contact
For general enquiries about the Musculoskeletal Function in Health and Ageing research theme, you can contact its lead Prof Rachel Cooper.
