Association between knee extensor and ankle plantarflexor muscle thickness and echo intensity with postural sway, mobility and physical function in older adults

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between muscle thickness and echo intensity with cognitive and physical dimensions like functional capacity measured in older people. This cross-sectional study involved 20 older adults (15 women and 5 men, mean age ± SD: 85 ± 7 years, body mass index: 25 ± 3 kg/m2) from a geriatric centre in Malaga (Spain). Anthropometric measurements, cognitive assessment with Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire and Motor Memory test, Physical Performance with Short Physical Performance Battery, and muscle strength were tested. Additionally, using B-mode ultrasonography, images of wrist flexors, biceps brachii, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior were captured, and muscle thickness and echo intensity variables were extracted. An association between muscle parameters assessed by ultrasonography and cognitive and physical dimensions were found in older people. Echo intensity was the best predictor in a set of regression models with different muscle parameters and a battery of cognitive and physical tests in older people. Echo intensity adjusted by handgrip strength could be a low cost and ambulatory index and an indirect and reversible indicator of functional capacity.

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The Relationship Between Trunk Muscle Thickness and Static Postural Balance in Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2019-0127 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 269-275

Author(s):

Ece Acar ◽

Tamer Çankaya ◽

Serkan Öner

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Postural Balance ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Force Plate ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Rectus Abdominis ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

The Relationship ◽

Stability Area

Trunk muscles are required for safety of movement in aging. The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between trunk muscle thickness and the static postural balance in older adults. A total of 31 females and 23 males with a mean age of 73.39 ± 6.09 completed the study. The thickness of the trunk muscles was determined with ultrasound imaging. Postural balance was assessed with force plate. There was a positive weak correlation between right and left upper rectus abdominis muscle thickness and anterior stability area (p < .05, r > .3). The negative and moderate correlation was determined between the left lower rectus abdominis and the perturbated stability sway value (p < .01, r > .5). The increase in trunk muscle thickness in older adults increases the postural stability area and decreases the postural sway especially in the mediolateral direction.

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Association of physical activity with age-related changes in muscle echo intensity in older adults: a 4-year longitudinal study

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00317.2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 125 (5) ◽

pp. 1468-1474 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Fukumoto ◽

Yosuke Yamada ◽

Tome Ikezoe ◽

Yuya Watanabe ◽

Masashi Taniguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Quadriceps Femoris ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Longitudinal Changes ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Changes

Ultrasonic echo intensity (EI), an easy-to-use measure of intramuscular fat and fibrous tissues, is known to increase with aging. However, age-related changes in EI have not been examined in a longitudinal design. The objective of this study was to investigate 4-yr longitudinal changes in the EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults, based on difference in physical activity (PA). This study included 131 community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 72.9 ± 5.2 yr. Subcutaneous fat thickness (FT), muscle thickness (MT), and EI of the quadriceps femoris were measured by ultrasound. Isometric knee extensor strength was also measured. PA was assessed using a questionnaire at baseline, and participants were classified into the high or low PA groups. In 4 yr, a significant decrease in FT, MT, and strength was observed in both groups ( P < 0.05), whereas a significant decrease in EI was observed only in the high PA group ( P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the difference in PA was a significant predictor of 4-yr changes in MT (β = 0.189, P = 0.031) and EI (β = −3.145, P = 0.045) but not in the body mass index, FT, or strength adjusted for potential confounders. The present findings suggest that greater PA has a positive effect on longitudinal changes in the MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults. In addition, greater PA may contribute to a future decrease in EI, and an increase in EI may not occur in 4 yr, even in older adults with lesser PA. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results suggest that greater physical activity (PA) may mitigate future changes in muscle thickness and echo intensity (EI). A decrease in EI over 4 yr was observed in older adults with greater PA, and an increase in EI was not observed, even in older adults with smaller PA. Several cross-sectional studies demonstrated an increase in EI with aging. Additionally, the results of our longitudinal study suggest that an age-related increase in EI may be moderated after the old-age period.

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Olfaction and Physical Function in Older Adults: Findings From Health ABC

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1710 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 530-531

Author(s):

Yaqun Yuan ◽

Zhehui Luo ◽

Chenxi Li ◽

Eleanor Simonsick ◽

Eric Shiroma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Potential Health ◽

Knee Extensor Strength ◽

Race Disparities

Abstract The present study aims to investigate poor olfaction in relation to physical functioning in community-dwelling older adults and potential sex and race disparities. The analysis included 2511 participants aged 71-82 years (51.7% women and 38.4% blacks) from the Health Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. Olfaction was tested with the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). Physical function measures included the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Health ABC Physical Performance Battery (HABCPPB), gait speed of 20-meter walk, fast 400-meter walking time, grip strength, and knee extensor strength, repeatedly assessed annually or biennially for a follow-up of seven years. We analyzed each of these physical function measures using mixed models, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle, and comorbidities. For all measures except grip and knee extensor strength, poor olfaction was clearly associated with poorer physical performance at baseline and a faster decline over time. For example, at baseline, the multivariate adjusted SPPB was 8.23 ± 0.09 for participants with poor olfaction and 8.55 ± 0.09 for those with good olfaction (P = 0.02), after seven years of follow-up, the corresponding scores decreased to 6.46 ± 0.12 and 7.36 ± 0.10 respectively (cross-sectional P<0.001, and P for olfaction-by-year interaction < 0.001). For grip and knee extensor strength, similar differences were suggested but didn’t reach statistical significance. The overall results were similar by sex and race. In summary, poor olfaction is clearly associated with faster decline in physical functioning in older adults and future studies should investigate its potential health implications.

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Can Isometric Knee Extensor Torque from Hand-held Dynamometry Predict Physical Function in Overweight Older Adults?

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000385498.31155.72 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 600

Author(s):

Chad R. Straight ◽

Leah R. Dorfman ◽

Kathryn E. Cottell ◽

Kristen L. Cavaco ◽

Thomas G. Manfredi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Extensor Torque

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Impact of Weight Loss on Physical Function with Changes in Strength, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Fat Infiltration in Overweight to Moderately Obese Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2011/516576 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Adam J. Santanasto ◽

Nancy W. Glynn ◽

Mark A. Newman ◽

Christopher A. Taylor ◽

Maria Mori Brooks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Physical Function ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Fat Infiltration ◽

Muscle Fat Infiltration

Purpose. Evaluate the effects of weight loss on muscle mass and area, muscle fat infiltration, strength, and their association with physical function.Methods. Thirty-six overweight to moderately obese, sedentary older adults were randomized into either a physical activity plus weight loss (PA+WL) or physical activity plus successful aging health education (PA+SA) program. Measurements included body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computerized tomography, knee extensor strength, and short physical performance battery (SPPB).Results. At 6 months, PA+WL lost greater thigh fat and muscle area compared to PA+SA. PA+WL lost 12.4% strength; PA+SA lost 1.0%. Muscle fat infiltration decreased significantly in PA+WL and PA+SA. Thigh fat area decreased 6-fold in comparison to lean area in PA+WL. Change in total SPPB score was strongly inversely correlated with change in fat but not with change in lean or strength.Conclusion. Weight loss resulted in additional improvements in function over exercise alone, primarily due to loss of body fat.

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Impact of home-based squat training with two-depths on lower limb muscle parameters and physical functional tests in older adults

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86030-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Akito Yoshiko ◽

Kohei Watanabe

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Peak Torque ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Functional Tests ◽

Leg Press ◽

Home Based ◽

Deep Squat

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of home-based shallow and deep squat trainings on knee extension peak torque, muscle thickness, one-repetition maximum (1RM) leg press, and physical function in older individuals. Sixteen participants were randomly assigned to the shallow squat group (SS group; age, 71.0 ± 4.0 years) or deep squat group (DS group, age; 68.6 ± 3.6 years). Chairs of 40-cm height and chairs with a cushion of 20-cm height (60-cm in total) were used as the depth targets for squats, with participants instructed to sink until their hip touched the chair and cushion. Participants performed four sets of squats per day (35 repetitions per set), three days per week, for 12 weeks at their home. Knee extension peak torque, muscle thickness of quadriceps femoris (e.g., vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus intermedius), and physical function were measured at weeks 0 (baseline), 4, 8, and 12. Maximal isometric knee extension peak torque, muscle thickness, and walking speed did not change significantly over the 12-week training period in either group (P > 0.05). However, compared with the baseline, there was significant improvement in the results of 30-s sit-to-stand repetition tests after weeks 8 and 12 in both groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, 1RM leg press results were significantly improved after weeks 4 and 12 in the DS group, and weeks 4, 8, and 12 in the SS group (P < 0.05). Results indicate that home-based weight-bearing squat training improves lower limb function in older adults, as well as performance in physical functional tests related to activities of daily living. Moreover, such training benefits older adults regardless of whether squats are shallow or deep.

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Relationship of Phase Angle, Echo Intensity, and Muscle Thickness with Isokinetic Knee Extensor Strength and Associated Motor Functions in Young Adults

10.21203/rs.3.rs-583541/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tomoyuki Yamauchi ◽

Takumi Yamada

Keyword(s):

Phase Angle ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Alternative Assessment ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Motor Functions ◽

Knee Extensor Strength

Abstract Background: There is no comprehensive report on quadriceps femoris muscle parameters’ association with isokinetic knee extensor strength, and no study has comprehensively clarified the relationship with motor function. To investigate the relation of isokinetic knee extensor strength and motor functions with phase angle, muscle echo intensity, and muscle thickness, to find alternative methods for knee extensor strength assessment. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between phase angle (PA) (measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis), muscle echo intensity (EI), and muscle thickness (MT) (measured using ultrasound) and isokinetic knee extensor strength (measured as maximum torque at 60 degree/s using an isokinetic dynamometer), and motor functions evaluated by gait speed (usual and maximum), five chair stands time, and stand up score.Results: The study comprised of 33 young healthy adults (12 males and 21 females; mean age, 22.2 years). Both sexes showed a significant correlation between isokinetic knee extensor strength and PA (males, r = 0.65, females, r = 0.54), muscle EI (males, r = -0.53, females, r = -0.54), and MT (males, r = 0.34, females, r = 0.38). In addition, a significant correlation was found between PA and maximum gait speed (males, r = 0.64, females, r = 0.44), five chair stands time (males, r = -0.69, females, r = -0.62), and stand up score (females, r = 0.45), and between muscle EI and maximum gait speed (males, r = -0.34, females, r = -0.42), five chair stands time (males, r = 0.37, females, r = 0.33), and stand up score (females, r = -0.30).Conclusions: The study suggests the potential of phase angle and muscle echo intensity as alternative assessment methods for isokinetic knee extensor strength.

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