Osteoporos Sarcopenia.  2017 Sep;3(3):128-131. 10.1016/j.afos.2017.07.001.

Comparison of lower leg muscle strength and grip strength for diagnosing slower gait speed in the elderly

• Ohta J
• Seki M
• Ao M
• Okajima R
• Kuwabara A
• Takaoka H
• Aoyama K
• Tanaka K

• KMID: 2394999
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.afos.2017.07.001

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Sarcopenia, decreased muscle volume and muscle weakness in the elderly is a serious risk of various adverse outcomes. Current diagnostic procedure for sarcopenia includes gait speed, grip strength, and percentage of skeletal muscle volume. However, lower leg muscle strength decreases much faster than grasp power, and we have evaluated the usefulness of its measurement using a recently developed instrument (Locomoscan).
METHODS
Forty-three institutionalized elderly subjects were evaluated for their anthropometrical parameters, body composition, grasp and lower leg muscle strength, and gait speed. They were categorized into 2 groups; gait speed equal to or higher than 0.8 m/s and that below 0.8 m/s.
RESULTS
Leg muscle strength per body weight was significantly greater in those with their gait speed equal to or higher than 0.8 m/s, whereas there was no significant difference in other parameters. Receiver operator characteristics analysis has shown that leg muscle alone significantly predicted the greater gait speed.
CONCLUSIONS
Lower leg muscle strength can be useful for predicting gait speed.

Keyword

Leg muscle strength measurement; Sarcopenia; Locomoscan; Gait speed

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Body Composition
Body Weight
Gait*
Hand Strength*
Humans
Leg*
Muscle Strength*
Muscle Weakness
Muscle, Skeletal
Sarcopenia