The purpose of this observational study is to examine whether differences in muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body are associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The study will include adults aged 65 years and older with and without sarcopenia. Muscle strength will be measured on both sides of the body using handgrip strength as well as strength measurements of the biceps (upper arm muscle) and quadriceps (thigh muscle). The difference in strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides will be calculated and compared between participants with sarcopenia and those without sarcopenia.
The main question it aims to answers are:
* Do older adults with sarcopenia have larger differences in muscle strength between the two sides of the body compared with those without sarcopenia? * Can differences in arm and leg muscle strength help identify older adults who may be at higher risk of sarcopenia?
Age 65 years or older
Ability to walk independently or with minimal assistance
Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent
Lack of cooperation, moderate to severe dementia (e.g., MMSE <24) or conditions impeding cooperation.
Those with severe cardiovascular disease
Those with pacemakers
Surgical/fracture/acute pain in the measured extremities within the last 6 months.
The study population will include older adults aged 65 years and older who are evaluated in a hospital or outpatient clinic setting. Participants will be grouped as sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic according to established diagnostic criteria and will undergo standardized assessments of muscle strength, body composition, and physical performance.
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Biceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Difference in biceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using Lafayette manual muscle tester.
Quadriceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Difference in quadriceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using lafayette manual muscle tester.
Handgrip Strength (Dominant and Non-Dominant)
Handgrip strength measured separately for the dominant and non-dominant hands using a hand dynamometer.
Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living
Functional independence in activities of daily living was assessed using the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional independence and lower scores indicating greater dependency.
Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC)
Ambulation ability was evaluated using the Functional Ambulation Classification. The FAC is a 6-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 5, where higher scores indicate greater walking independence (0 = non-functional ambulation; 5 = independent ambulation on all surfaces).
Body Composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Body composition, including muscle mass, assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita device).
Gait Speed (3 m and 4 m Walk Tests)
Gait speed measured over 3-meter and 4-meter walking tests under standardized conditions.
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