scholarly journals Sarcopenia, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, and Physical Disability in Community-Dwelling Elderly People

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1277-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Yueh Chien ◽  
Hsu-Ko Kuo ◽  
Ying-Tai Wu

Background Sarcopenia refers to the loss of skeletal muscle mass with aging. It is believed to be associated with functional impairment and physical disability. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare the physical activity, muscle strength (force-generating capacity), cardiopulmonary fitness, and physical disability in community-dwelling elderly people with sarcopenia, borderline sarcopenia, and normal skeletal muscle mass in Taiwan and (2) to test the hypothesis that sarcopenia is associated with physical disability and examine whether the association is mediated by decreased muscle strength or cardiopulmonary fitness. Design This was a cross-sectional investigation. Methods Two hundred seventy-five community-dwelling elderly people (148 men, 127 women) aged ≥65 years participated in the study. The participants were recruited from communities in the district of Zhongzheng, Taipei. Predicted skeletal muscle mass was estimated using a bioelectrical impedance analysis equation. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated by dividing skeletal muscle mass by height squared. Physical disability was assessed using the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale. Physical activity was assessed using a 7-day recall physical activity questionnaire. Cardiopulmonary fitness was assessed using a 3-minute step test, and grip strength was measured to represent muscle strength. Results Cardiopulmonary fitness was significantly lower in elderly people with sarcopenia than in those with normal SMIs. Grip strength and daily energy expenditure (kcal/kg/day) were not significantly different between the participants with sarcopenia and those with normal SMIs. The odds ratio for physical disability between the participants with sarcopenia and those with normal SMIs was 3.03 (95% confidence interval=1.21–7.61). The odds ratio decreased and the significant difference diminished after controlling for cardiopulmonary fitness. Limitations A causal relationship between sarcopenia and physical activity, cardiopulmonary fitness, and physical disability cannot be established because of the cross-sectional nature of study design. Conclusions Sarcopenia was associated with physical disability in elderly men. The association between sarcopenia and physical disability was mediated to a large extent by decreased cardiopulmonary fitness.

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-796
Author(s):  
Yoshiharu NAGAI ◽  
Masami NAKAHARA ◽  
Takeyoshi SHIMODA ◽  
Yoshirou TAKANO

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251025
Author(s):  
Tadashi Ito ◽  
Hideshi Sugiura ◽  
Yuji Ito ◽  
Koji Noritake ◽  
Nobuhiko Ochi

Regular physical activity is an important component of physical health of children and has been associated with increasing skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. Children with low levels of physical activity may experience health problems, such as loss of muscle mass, later in life. Thus, it may be valuable to identify declining physical function in children who do not perform the recommended amount of physical activity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the amount of physical activity performed for ≥60 min per day for ≥5 days per week and the skeletal muscle mass index and physical function in young children. In total, 340 typically developing children aged 6–12 years (175 girls; average age, 9.5±1.9 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated the proportion of children performing the recommended minimum of 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least 5 days per week. The skeletal muscle mass and Gait Deviation Index scores, gait speed, grip strength, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test results, Timed Up-and-Go test results, one-leg standing time, and gait efficiency were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with the skeletal muscle mass index, percent body fat, and physical function, after controlling for confounding factors (age and sex). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the skeletal muscle mass index was independently associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.71; P = 0.017). Performance of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for ≥5 days per week for ≥60 min per day was associated with the skeletal muscle mass index score of Japanese children. Our findings highlighted the importance of performing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for the development of skeletal muscle mass in children.


Author(s):  
Praval Khanal ◽  
Lingxiao He ◽  
Georgina K. Stebbings ◽  
Gladys L. Onambele-Pearson ◽  
Hans Degens ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Identification of simple screening tools for detecting lower skeletal muscle mass may be beneficial for planning effective interventions in the elderly. Aims We aimed to (1) establish a threshold for one-leg standing balance test (OLST) time for low muscle mass, and (2) test the ability of that threshold to assess muscular impairments in a poor balance group. Methods Eyes-open OLST (maximum duration 30 s) was performed with right and left legs in 291 women (age 71 ± 6 years). OLST time was calculated as the sum of the OLST time of right and left legs. Fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), fat mass, biceps brachii and vastus lateralis sizes; handgrip strength (HGS), elbow flexion maximum torque (MVCEF) and knee extension maximum torque (MVCKE) were measured. Muscle quality was calculated as MVCKE/FFM and physical activity was assessed by questionnaire. Low muscle mass was defined as SMMrelative of 22.1%, a previously established threshold for pre-sarcopenia. Results The OLST threshold time to detect low muscle mass was 55 s (sensitivity: 0.63; specificity: 0.60). The poor balance group (OLST < 55 s) had higher fat mass (3.0%, p < 0.001), larger VL thickness (5.1%, p = 0.016), and lower HGS (− 10.2%, p < 0.001), MVCEF (− 8.2%, p = 0.003), MVCKE (− 9.5%, p = 0.012), MVCKE/FFM (− 11.0%, p = 0.004) and physical activity (− 8.0%, p = 0.024) compared to the normal balance group. While after adjusting age, the differences exist for HGS, fat mass and VL thickness only. Discussion An OLST threshold of 55 s calculated as the summed score from both legs discriminated pre-sarcopenic characteristics among active, community-dwelling older women with limited potential (sensitivity 0.63, specificity 0.60). Conclusion OLST, which can be performed easily in community settings without the need for more complex muscle mass measurement, may help identify women at risk of developing sarcopenia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3146
Author(s):  
Dongmin Lee ◽  
Kyengho Byun ◽  
Moon-Hyon Hwang ◽  
Sewon Lee

Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that there is a negative correlation between arterial stiffness and variables such as skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power in older individuals. However, little research has been undertaken on relationships in healthy young adults. This study presents a preliminary research that investigates the association between arterial stiffness and muscular factors in healthy male college students. Twenty-three healthy young males (23.9 ± 0.5 years) participated in the study. The participants visited the laboratory, and variables including body composition, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood parameters, grip strength, and anaerobic power were measured. Measurements of augmentation index (AIx) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were performed to determine arterial stiffness. There were significant positive correlations among skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and anaerobic power in healthy young adult males. AIx was negatively associated with a skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.785, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.500, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.469, p < 0.05), respectively. Likewise, AIx@75 corrected with a heart rate of 75 was negatively associated with skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.738, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.461, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.420, p < 0.05) respectively. However, the baPWV showed no correlation with all muscular factors. Our findings suggest that maintaining high levels of skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power from relatively young age may lower AIx.


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