Beyond Handgrip: Associations Between Trunk Strength, Gait Speed, Resting Metabolic Rate, and Muscle Mass in Brazilian Older Women with Probable Sarcopenia

TL;DR

This study shows that trunk and lower limb strength assessments provide better insights into sarcopenia in older women than handgrip strength alone.

Contribution

The study introduces maximal isometric hip extension (MIHE) as a more comprehensive indicator of sarcopenia than traditional handgrip strength.

Findings

Maximal isometric hip extension (MIHE) is strongly correlated with resting metabolic rate and muscle mass in older women with probable sarcopenia.

Women with probable sarcopenia showed lower MIHE, slower gait speed, and reduced muscle mass compared to non-sarcopenic women.

Function-oriented evaluations like trunk strength and gait speed improve sarcopenia screening accuracy.

Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Sarcopenia remains a significant public health challenge in aging populations, leading to reduced functional autonomy, metabolic health deterioration, and increased mortality risk among older women.Although handgrip strength is a standard diagnostic tool, it may not fully capture the functional status of muscle groups essential for postural control and locomotion, such as the trunk and lower extremities.

Sarcopenia remains a significant public health challenge in aging populations, leading to reduced functional autonomy, metabolic health deterioration, and increased mortality risk among older women.

Although handgrip strength is a standard diagnostic tool, it may not fully capture the functional status of muscle groups essential for postural control and locomotion, such as the trunk and lower extremities.

Public health significance—Why is this work significant to public health?
This study demonstrates that assessments of lower limb and trunk strength provide critical clinical insights that go beyond the information provided by handgrip strength alone.The study revealed that maximal isometric hip extension (MIHE) is strongly correlated with resting metabolic rate (RMR), muscle mass, and key physical performance metrics, highlighting its value as a comprehensive health indicator.

This study demonstrates that assessments of lower limb and trunk strength provide critical clinical insights that go beyond the information provided by handgrip strength alone.

The study revealed that maximal isometric hip extension (MIHE) is strongly correlated with resting metabolic rate (RMR), muscle mass, and key physical performance metrics, highlighting its value as a comprehensive health indicator.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policymakers, and/or researchers in public health?
Incorporating function-oriented evaluations, such as trunk strength and gait speed, can enhance the accuracy of sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling older women.Practitioners and policymakers should consider integrated diagnostic protocols that include both metabolic and functional markers to facilitate the early identification of individuals at risk of metabolic and physical decline.

Incorporating function-oriented evaluations, such as trunk strength and gait speed, can enhance the accuracy of sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling older women.

Practitioners and policymakers should consider integrated diagnostic protocols that include both metabolic and functional markers to facilitate the early identification of individuals at risk of metabolic and physical decline.

Sarcopenia is a complex condition marked by reductions in muscle strength, mass, and overall physical performance, which has significant consequences for functional autonomy and metabolic health in elderly women. This study aimed to examine the correlations between lower limb strength, functional capabilities, and metabolic indicators in community-dwelling older women categorized according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) criteria. A total of thirty-eight women aged ≥ 60 years underwent assessments, including anthropometric, hemodynamic, and metabolic evaluations, along with functional tests such as handgrip strength, chair-rise test, gait speed, Timed Up-and-Go, and maximal isometric hip extension strength (MIHE). The criteria for probable sarcopenia were established using the handgrip thresholds set by the EWGSOP2. Women identified as having probable sarcopenia displayed markedly lower MIHE, diminished gait speed, inferior performance in chair-rise and Timed Up-and-Go tests, decreased muscle mass, and a lower resting metabolic rate than their non-sarcopenic counterparts. MIHE exhibited robust correlations with muscle mass, resting metabolic rate, and functional performance metrics. These results suggest that assessments of lower limb and trunk strength yield pertinent insights beyond handgrip strength alone. Function-oriented evaluations may improve sarcopenia screening and facilitate the identification of older women at risk of functional and metabolic deficiencies in community-based environments.

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