Association among sarcopenia, muscle strength, physical activity and quality of life in healthy elderly

Aim: the aim of this study is to investigate the association between sarcopenia, muscle strength and variables related to quality of life in elderly enrolled in a fitness center. Method: 88 volunteers (40 male and 48 female) aged from 64 to 83 years (mean 72,3 ± 4,6 years), underwent the following measurements: body composition analysis (BMI and BIA), handgrip strength, quality of life level was measured using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-form General Health Survey (SF- 36) translated and validated for Italy (Apolone and Mosconi, 1998) and physical activity level of the participants measured with the IPAQ-short version, (Manocci et al. 2010). The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: mean BMI was 26,5 (±3,7) in men and 24,7 (±3,5) in women; Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) was 34,3 (±3,2) in men and 30,8 (±4,9) in women; maximal handgrip was 40,6 (±6,9) kg in men and 24,1 (±4,4) kg in women. A total of 43 subjects were classified as non-sarcopenic and 45 as sarcopenic according Janssen et al. (2002). The prevalence of sarcopenia in our cohort was 75% in men and 31,25% in women. We found a correlation between SMI and pain (rho=-,245; p<0,05), in particular sarcopenic or pre-sarcopenic people reported a more intensive pain. Instead, in our sample there was no correlation between SMI and physical activity level. However, physical activity was positively correlated with social activities (rho=,301; p<0,01). Conclusion: in this population, low muscle mass was found to be related with an increased perception of pain but not with the level of physical activity. However this dimension was quite high, in fact people were enrolled in a fitness center, were people have a social activity. These two variables could represent protective factors for health. It is noteworthy that the increased perception of pain in the sarcopenic elderly does not result in an actual limitation of mobility, this may be due to a reduction of inflammation afforded by regular physical activity (Nicklas & Brinkley. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 37, 2009)