Engagement in Muscle-Strengthening Activities Lowers Sarcopenia Risk in Older Adults Already Adhering to the Aerobic Physical Activity Guidelines

Jort Veen, Diego Montiel-Rojas, Andreas Nilsson and Fawzi Kadi
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Jort Veen: School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81 Örebro, Sweden
Diego Montiel-Rojas: School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81 Örebro, Sweden
Andreas Nilsson: School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81 Örebro, Sweden
Fawzi Kadi: School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81 Örebro, Sweden

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-8

Abstract: Sarcopenia in older adults is associated with a higher risk of falls, disability, loss of independence, and mortality. Current physical activity (PA) guidelines recommend engagement in muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) in addition to aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, little is known about the impact of MSA in addition to adherence to the MVPA recommendation in the guidelines. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine whether or not engagement in MSA is linked to sarcopenia risk in older adults who meet the PA guidelines of 150 min of MVPA per week. A total of 193 community-dwelling older men and women (65–70 years) were included in the study. A continuous sex-specific clustered sarcopenia risk score (SRS) was created based on muscle mass assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength, and five times sit-to-stand (5STS) time, assessed using standardized procedures. Adherence to PA guidelines was assessed using the Actigraph GT3x accelerometer and the EPAQ2 questionnaire. Guideline adherence to MSA twice a week was related to a significantly ( p < 0.05) lower SRS compared to those who did not. This finding was evident after adjustment for adherence to the protein intake guideline and abdominal obesity. Similar impacts were observed for muscle mass and 5-STS but not for handgrip strength. In conclusion, guideline adherence to MSA is related to lower sarcopenia risk in older adults who already accumulate 150 weekly minutes of MVPA, which reinforces the promotion of the MSA guideline, alongside the MVPA guideline, to fight against sarcopenia progression in ageing populations.

Keywords: resistance exercise; muscle mass; muscle strength; ageing; protein intake; lifestyle behaviours; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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