Keeping older workers on the job and using technology to maintain health Remarks for the meeting of

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Keeping older workers on the job and using
technology to maintain healthRemarks for the
meeting of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare
and Sport, November,13, 2007Technische
Universiteit Eindhoven

• James L. Fozard, Ph.D.
• University of South Florida
• Tampa, FL 33618 USA
• fozard_at_tampabay.rr.com

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Half of US Workforce is over 45
In Japan almost 20 of the population is already
over 65, the highest share in the world. In the
United States the number of workers aged 55-64
will have increased by more than half in this
decade, at the same time as the 35- to
44-year-olds decline by 10. (Economist 2/18/2006)
In Workforce Crisis" by Ken Dychtwald, Tamara
Erickson and Robert Morison, say a shortage of
skills and a cut in the supply of labor are
"already threatening the performance of many
corporations".
Employers need to encourage good health of older
workers.,  Occupational Health, Jan. 2007, Vol. 59
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Lessons from the Dutch Ministry of Health,
Welfare and Sport

• In 1996, A symposium, Problems and solutions in
  longitudinal research was held in honor of the
  20th anniversary of the Amsterdam Growth and
  Health Longitudinal Study
• Opening address by Secy Erica Terpstra
• I served as one of the two peer reviewers for the
  13 invited papers published in the International
  Journal of Sports Medicine, July 1997, 18, Suppl
  3, S139-S254
• One important finding was that maintaining
  fitness is a lifetime job

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Importance of Healthy lifestyle begins early in
life

• Blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk
  factors were measured in 1500 boys and girls
  ranging age from 5-14 years and again 15 years
  later. Over 18 of the adults who were in the
  highest quintile of blood pressure as children
  developed essential hypertension as opposed to 5
  in the lower quintiles
• Bao W, Threefoot SR, Strinivasen SR, Berenson GS.
  Essential hypertension predicted by tracking of
  elevated blood pressure from childhood to
  adulthood The Bogalusa Heart Study. Amer J
  Hypertension 1995, 8(7), 1-8
• Twisk J Tracking of blood cholesterol over a 15
  year peiod and its relation to other risk factors
  for coronary heart disease. Den Haag, NL
  CIP-Data Koninklijk Bibliotheek, 1995

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Midlife strength predicts functioning 25 years
later

• Grip strength measured at age 45 to 68 in
  Japanese-American men.
• 25 years later speed of walking, ability to
  stand up from chair, and self-reports of
  difficulty lifting 10 lbs, doing housework, etc
  were measured.
• Performance was directly related to strength as
  measured 25 years earlier
• Rantanen T, Guralnik JM, Masaki K et al Midlife
  hand grip strength as a predictor of old age
  disability JAMA 1999281558-560

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Relative effort () of maximum strength required
to perform ADLs
Hortobagyi T, Mizelle C, Beam S, DaVita P. J.
GerontologyMedical Sciences, 2003, 58A,453-460
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Effects of strength training on mobilitybasic
findings

• Strength training and physical activity improve
  muscle mass, control of movement, and balance
• Fiaterone MA, Marks EC, Ryan ND et al.
  High-intensity strength training in
  nonogerniansEffects of skeletal muscle. J Am Med
  Ass, 19902633029.
• Ivey FM, Tracy BL, Lemmer JT, NessAiver M, SM,
  Metter EJ, Fozard JL, Hurley BH. The effects of
  strength training and detraining on muscle
  quality Age and gender comparisons J
  GerontolBiol Sci 200055AB152-B157.
• Miller ME, Rejeski WJ, Reboussin BA, Ten Have TR,
  Ettinger WH Physical activity, funtional
  limitations and disability in older adults J Am
  Ger Soc 2000481264-1272.
• Since 2000, dozens of well designed studies
  extend these early studies e.g., J. Gerontology
  Med Sci 200762A(June)2007 62A(Aug)

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Technologys roles in strength training

• Machines can motivate training
• Networking can improve motivation and quality of
  feedback from strength training
• Reinforcement from sharing information by peers
  doing similar workouts
• Machines can help set goals for training
• Wearable sensors provide continuous information
  to set goals for training. This is very important
  because the majority of well-intentioned trainers
  do not set goals high enough

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Technology and setting goals for strength
training

• Prevention requires that we set standards for
  reserve strength needed for adequate functioning
  at a later age
• Early estimates--we need 40 of our strength at
  age 25 to function well at age70
• Wearable transducers provide information on
  quality and required number of maneuvers
• New technology development at University of Pisa
  by Dr. E. Piaggio allows for Kinesthetic sensing
  by use of smart fabrics in gloves, socks and
  leotards
• http//www.piaggio.ccii.unipi.it/kine.htm

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Boston Red Sox Deploy
Activity-Monitoring Technology
In Spring training, Boston Red Sox players wore a
small, wireless, intelligent pedometer called the
ActiPed, from Massachusetts-based FitSense
Technology. It's an activity monitor that
accurately tracks your every step, the calories
you burn, how much time you've been active, and
how far you went in miles.
The ActiHealth network provides physiological
information and feedback tools for health and
wellness program providers that engage and
motivate their members, changing their behaviors
and improving health. The network seamlessly
collects, transports, and presents information on
physical activity, weight, body fat, blood
pressure, heart rate, peak flow, and blood
glucose, for anyone, anytime, anywhere.
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Technology and motivation Computerized coaching

• FitLinxx is a computerized system that attaches
  directly to existing fitness equipment
• FitLinxx learns users' programs, coaches them
  individually through their workout for better
  form, safety and confidence during every
  exercise, and tracks their progress over time.
• On strength equipment, FitLinxx appears as an
  easy-to-read touch-screen display that's attached
  to the machine. For cardiovascular equipment,
  each machine's existing console is simply
  networked to FitLinxx
• Users simply tap in their PIN to display their
  targets - FitLinxx then coaches them on speed,
  form, heart rate, etc., and tracks the workout
  session - every rep, set and step.
• http//www.fitlinxx.com/Article.htm?ID976