Search

There is growing interest of researchers in physical performance tests such as walking speed (WS) in the older adult population. This study examined the association between lower extremity functional strength (LEFS) and WS, accounting for potential confounders, and the extent to which LEFS significantly predicts WS in 72 older adults living in a senior housing facility. Participants completed LEFS and WS measures. We observed strong associations between LEFS and WS, and a significant regression equation was found with LEFS and height emerging as significant predictors of WS. This suggests that an equation using LEFS and height could be used as a surrogate to predict WS in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Introduction: appropriate appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST) parameters to identify sarcopenia in Brazil are scarce. The use of international references may lead to a false positive diagnosis. The objective was to propose cut-off points to identify sarcopenia in older men and women using DXA-derived ALST values from a young adult population. Methods: this was an observational study with a cross-sectional analysis. University students of both sexes (n = 125), aged 20 to 30 years, underwent anthropometric measurements and DXA scanning to obtain their ALST (kg). Cut-off points for sarcopenia were set at -2 standard deviations (-2SDs) away from the mean ALST of a young sample. Absolute values and indices (ALST/height2, ALST/weight, and ALST/body mass index [BMI]) were considered as recommended by international consensus. Results: compared to women, men presented higher values of weight, height, BMI, bone mineral content, lean soft tissue, ALST, and ALST index (kg/m²). Only fat mass was higher in women, and age was not different between genders. The -2SD ALST indices obtained were ≤ 6.56 kg/m² for men and ≤ 4.67 kg/m² for women. They were below international and national values, which tended to classify false positives. Conclusions: the -2SD ALST values proposed here are validated cut-offs for identifying low muscle in older adults and to prevent misdiagnosis with sarcopenia. In addition, they contribute to efficient monitoring and control of this disease in geriatric populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]