Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Aug;41(4):686-692. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.4.686.

Relation Between Respiratory Muscle Strength and Skeletal Muscle Mass and Hand Grip Strength in the Healthy Elderly

• Shin HI
• Kim DK
• Seo KM
• Kang SH
• Lee SY
• Son S

• KMID: 2389415
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.4.686

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sarcopenic indices in relation to respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in elderly people.
METHODS
This study included 65 volunteers over the age of 60 (30 men and 35 women). The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was measured using bioimpedance analysis. Limb muscle function was assessed by handgrip strength (HGS), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and gait speed. RMS was addressed by maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) using a spirometer. The relationships between RMS and other sarcopenic indices were investigated using the Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, HGS, and SPPB.
RESULTS
Both MIP and MEP were positively correlated with SMI (r=0.451 and r=0.388, respectively, p<0.05 in both). HGS showed a significant correlation with both MIP and MEP (r=0.560, p<0.01 and r=0.393, p<0.05, respectively). There was no significant correlation between gait speed and either MIP or MEP. The SPPB was positively correlated with MEP (r=0.436, p<0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, MIP was significantly associated with HGS and SMI (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively), while MEP was related only with HGS (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that respiratory muscles, especially inspiratory muscles, are significantly related to limb muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass. The clinical significance of MIP and MEP should be further investigated with prospective studies.

Keyword

Sarcopenia; Respiratory muscles; Muscle strength; Skeletal muscle; Spirometry

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Extremities
Gait
Hand Strength*
Hand*
Humans
Male
Muscle Strength
Muscle, Skeletal*
Muscles
Prospective Studies
Respiratory Muscles*
Sarcopenia
Spirometry
Volunteers

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