ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PHYSICAL FUNCTION AND SKELETAL MUSCLE SIZE AND QUALITY IN OLDER WOMEN
Disciplines
Physiotherapy
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Introduction: Previous research indicates that muscle size is at least moderately associated with strength, indicating that other factors such as muscle quality may be a correlate. However, far less work has examined the relationship between muscle quality and muscle strength or physical function. Purpose: To examine the relationship between muscle size and quality with muscle strength and physical function in older women. Methods: Thirty-two older women (70 ± 4 yrs) attended one visit where ultrasound images of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris (quadriceps) and bicep brachii (BB) were obtained. Muscle size was determined as cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle quality as echo intensity (EI), which is indicative of composition of the muscle. Additionally, maximal strength of the elbow flexors and quadriceps were determined from maximal voluntary isometric contractions using a dynamometer. To assess physical function, subjects completed as many chair rises (CR) as possible within 30 seconds. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were computed to examine relationships amongst CSA and EI of the quadriceps and BB with maximal strength and CR. Results: CSA was significantly correlated with maximal strength of both BB (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001) and quadriceps (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between EI and maximal strength for the BB or quadriceps (p > 0.05). CR was not correlated with CSA or EI of the quadriceps (p > 0.05). Discussion: Our findings support previous research indicating that muscle size is positively associated with muscle strength, though it was not correlated with physical function. Muscle quality was not associated with muscle strength or physical function, which may have been partially due to the homogenous sample and limited age range.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Exercise Science and Sport Management
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Garrett Hester
Additional Faculty
Jacob Grazer, ESSM, jgrazera@kennesaw.edu
Robert Buresh, ESSM, rburesh@kennesaw.edu
Tim Martin, Psychological Sciences, tmarti61@kennesaw.edu
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PHYSICAL FUNCTION AND SKELETAL MUSCLE SIZE AND QUALITY IN OLDER WOMEN
Introduction: Previous research indicates that muscle size is at least moderately associated with strength, indicating that other factors such as muscle quality may be a correlate. However, far less work has examined the relationship between muscle quality and muscle strength or physical function. Purpose: To examine the relationship between muscle size and quality with muscle strength and physical function in older women. Methods: Thirty-two older women (70 ± 4 yrs) attended one visit where ultrasound images of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris (quadriceps) and bicep brachii (BB) were obtained. Muscle size was determined as cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle quality as echo intensity (EI), which is indicative of composition of the muscle. Additionally, maximal strength of the elbow flexors and quadriceps were determined from maximal voluntary isometric contractions using a dynamometer. To assess physical function, subjects completed as many chair rises (CR) as possible within 30 seconds. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were computed to examine relationships amongst CSA and EI of the quadriceps and BB with maximal strength and CR. Results: CSA was significantly correlated with maximal strength of both BB (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001) and quadriceps (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between EI and maximal strength for the BB or quadriceps (p > 0.05). CR was not correlated with CSA or EI of the quadriceps (p > 0.05). Discussion: Our findings support previous research indicating that muscle size is positively associated with muscle strength, though it was not correlated with physical function. Muscle quality was not associated with muscle strength or physical function, which may have been partially due to the homogenous sample and limited age range.