Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles
University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic | [b] Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA | [c] Center for Expertise Longevity and Long Term Care,
Faculty of Humanities, Charles University of Prague, Prague, Czech
Republic | [d] Center for Gerontology, Prague, Czech Republic
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Michal Šteffl, Fakulta těsné
výchovy a sportu Univerzity Karlovy, José Martího 31, 162 52 Praha
6 – Veleslavín, Czech Republic. Tel.: +420 220 172 072; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is defined as a loss of muscle mass and
strength as well as a reduction in physical performance with aging. This study
was undertaken to examine the association between specific measures of muscle
mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older women. METHODS: Sixty-nine community-dwelling women with an average age of 66 years (range
60–79) participated in this study. Their muscle mass was described using
bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), their muscle strength was characterized
using hand-grip dynamometry (HGD) and their physical performance was denoted
using gait speed. Associations between the measures were examined using Pearson
correlations and factor analysis. RESULTS: The correlation between muscle
mass and muscle strength was strong and significant (p< 0.001), whereas
the correlation between both variables and gait speed was poor and not
significant. The factor analysis showed that gait speed (loading=−0.235)
was not part of the same component as muscle mass and grip strength. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle mass and muscle strength were very closely linked with one
another but not with gait speed. Muscle mass and strength represent a different
component of sarcopenia than physical performance, at least as represented by gait speed.
