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Physical activity and sarcopenia in older adults

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Abstract

Background

Sarcopenia is prevalent in ever growing older adult populations.

Aim

The aim of this study was to quantify the association between physical activity (PA), sedentary time (SED), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and strength (STR) with sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults using a standard definition of sarcopenia.

Method

This cross-sectional study examined a large group of older adults (n = 304) who provided a broad range of health, lifestyle, and socioeconomic variables. PA was assessed using a pedometer worn for 7 days. SED was assessed by survey. CRF was assessed by 400-m walk test performance. Strength (STR) was assessed by one-repetition maximum chest and leg press. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) definition defined 10.9% (n = 33) as sarcopenic.

Results

PA, CRF, and STR were significantly associated with sarcopenia components (muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle function). The upper two-thirds of CRF had significantly lower odds of having sarcopenia, whereas the strongest third of STR was associated with lower odds of sarcopenia. All exposure variables had significant odds ratios associated with at least one component of sarcopenia. Joint analyses indicated additional benefit may be gained from being both active (≥ 5000 daily steps) and fit (top two-thirds), active and strong (top two-thirds), and fit and strong.

Discussion

Overall, objectively measured PA, CRF, and STR, and self-reported SED, are associated with sarcopenia and its components.

Conclusion

Therefore, older adults who are physically active, maintain higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, upper and lower body strength, and avoid sedentary time may have significantly lower odds of sarcopenia.

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Funding

This study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Biospace. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Biospace.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, College of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University Irvine, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA

    Nathan F. Meier

  2. Department of Kinesiology, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University, 103H Forker, 534 Wallace Dr., Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Nathan F. Meier & Duck-chul Lee

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  1. Nathan F. Meier
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Correspondence to Nathan F. Meier.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (the Institutional Review Board of Iowa State University, IRB # 15-430) and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Meier, N.F., Lee, Dc. Physical activity and sarcopenia in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 1675–1687 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01371-8

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