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Elderly Movement Literacy Assessment Tool (EMLAT)

The global increase in the elderly population, especially those over 85, underscores the need for strategies to promote healthy ageing.

While medical advancements have extended lifespans, physical function still declines with age, affecting independence and quality of life. Frailty, though related to aging, is a distinct concept and lacks a standardized measurement. Frailty is characterized by deficits in various physiological and cognitive capacities, known as intrinsic capacity. Measures like physical capacity, physiological markers, and self-reporting scales have been used to assess frailty, but consensus on standardization is lacking. Maintaining independent living is a key indicator of frailty, as it requires strength, flexibility, and balance. Screening for functional deficits can provide early signs of frailty and inform exercise interventions to delay its onset. The proposed Elderly Movement Literacy Assessment Tool (EMLAT) aims to assess fundamental movement capacity in seven patterns relevant to daily activities, allowing for the evaluation of proprioceptive acuity. Muscle deterioration is a significant factor in age-related decline, and resistance training has shown promise in preventing and reversing this decline. A study will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of a strength training program in improving screening scores and potentially attenuating the loss of physical performance associated with frailty. The goal is to develop an easy-to-administer screening tool for various settings to improve overall physical performance and reduce the risk of frailty-related declines in quality of life. 

Phil Walker

Rob Needham

CBRT Staffordshire University