Simple One-Leg Stand Test Reveals Muscle Loss and Quality in Older Adults

This study in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research investigated whether a simple one-leg standing time (OLST) test could assess muscle health in older adults. Over 1100 participants aged 65+ had muscle mass and fat content measured using CT scans. Researchers found a strong link between shorter OLST and both lower muscle mass and poorer muscle quality (more fat infiltration). OLST wasn't directly related to balance sway during another test. Those with the worst muscle characteristics were much more likely to have a very short OLST. This suggests OLST is a promising tool for easily assessing muscle health in older adults, potentially for detecting sarcopenia risk.

Key Points

1. Focus on Muscle Characteristics: Researchers used CT scans to analyze muscle characteristics in over 1100 participants aged 65 and over. Muscle size (cross-sectional area, CSA) and fat content (mean attenuation value, MAV) were measured. Lower MAV indicates more fat infiltration within the muscle.

2. OLST Reflects Both Muscle Mass and Quality: The study found a clear association between OLST and muscle characteristics. People with shorter OLST had both lower muscle mass (CSA) and lower muscle quality (higher MAV, indicating more fat infiltration). This suggests that OLST is a good indicator of not just how much muscle someone has, but also the health of that muscle.

3. Limited Connection to Balance Sway: Interestingly, OLST wasn't directly related to how much a participant's center of gravity swayed during a separate balance test. This suggests that OLST might be a more specific measure of muscle function compared to some other balance tests.

4. Identifying Individuals at Risk: Participants with the lowest muscle mass and highest fat infiltration were much more likely to have a very short OLST (less than 20 seconds). This highlights the potential of OLST as a screening tool for identifying older adults who may be at risk for mobility problems due to poor muscle health.

5. Simple and Effective Assessment: A major advantage of OLST is its simplicity. It doesn't require any special equipment and can be easily performed in various settings. This makes it a valuable tool for healthcare professionals to assess muscle health in older adults.

6. Potential Applications: Based on the findings, OLST could be used for:

   • Screening for sarcopenia (muscle loss and weakness)

   • Monitoring muscle health changes over time

   • Assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving muscle function

7. Need for Further Research: While the study supports OLST's potential, some limitations exist. The study didn't compare OLST to other physical performance measures, and it focused on thigh muscles, while overall muscle health might be relevant. More research is needed to explore how interventions like exercise programs can improve OLST and muscle quality in older adults.

One-Leg Standing Time as a Measure of Muscle Loss and Quality in Older Adults

This study investigated the use of one-leg standing time (OLST) as a measure of muscle health in older adults. OLST is a simple physical performance test where a person stands on one leg for as long as possible. Researchers examined the relationship between OLST and muscle characteristics in a group of over 1100 participants aged 65 and over.

Muscle characteristics were assessed using computed tomography (CT) scans, which provided detailed information about muscle size and fat content. Muscle size was measured as cross-sectional area (CSA), while fat content was measured using mean attenuation value (MAV). Lower MAV indicates more fat infiltration within the muscle.

Key Findings

• Shorter OLST was associated with both lower muscle CSA and lower MAV. This suggests that OLST reflects not only how much muscle someone has, but also the quality of that muscle. Muscles with higher fat content were linked to shorter OLST.

• OLST was not directly related to how much the center of gravity swayed during a balance test. This suggests that OLST may be a more specific measure of muscle function than some other balance tests.

• Participants with the lowest muscle mass and highest fat infiltration were much more likely to have a short OLST (less than 20 seconds). This highlights the potential of OLST to identify individuals who may be at risk for mobility problems.

Implications

These findings support the use of OLST as a simple and effective way to assess muscle health in older adults. OLST is easy to perform and doesn't require any special equipment, making it a valuable tool for healthcare professionals working in various settings.

• Potential applications of OLST:

  • Screening for sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle loss and weakness.

  • Monitoring muscle health over time.

  • Assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving muscle function.

Limitations and Future Directions

• This study did not compare OLST to other physical performance measures, so it's unclear how well OLST stacks up against other options.

• The study focused on muscle in the thighs, but muscle health throughout the body may also be important for balance and mobility.

• More research is needed to determine whether interventions like exercise programs can improve OLST and muscle quality.

Overall, this study suggests that OLST is a promising tool for assessing muscle health in older adults. It's a simple, accessible test that reflects both muscle mass and quality. Further research can help solidify the role of OLST in clinical practice and guide interventions to improve muscle health in older populations.

Journal Reference

Tabara, Y., Okada, Y., Ochi, M. et al. One-leg standing time is a simple measure for loss of skeletal muscle mass and fat deposition in muscle: the J-SHIPP study. Aging Clin Exp Res 36, 7 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02665-8

Related

https://healthnewstrend.com/building-muscle-how-exercise-and-hormones-work-together-testosterone-estrogen-gh-igf-1

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.