Abstract:

Objective To explore the correlation between sarcopenia and balance in old women. Methods From September to November, 2017, 224 women aged 60 to 70 were recruited. They were divided into normal group (n = 198) and sarcopenia group (n = 26) according to the results of muscle volume, grip strength and 6-meter walking speed (6MWS), and tested with single foot standing with eyes close (SSEC) and the five times of sit-to-stand (5STS). The correlation of the time of SSEC and 5STS to muscle volume, grip strength and 6MWS were analyzed with Pearson's Correlation Analysis in both groups, respectively. Results The incidence of simple decrease in muscle volume, grip strength and 6MWS was 20.5%, 14.3% and 2.2%, respectively, and the incidence of sarcopenia was 11.6%. The time of SSEC was shorter in the sarcopenia group than in the normal group (t = 4.072, P < 0.001), and the time of 5STS was longer ( t = -5.461, P < 0.001). The time of SSEC correlated with 6MWS in normal group ( r = 0.675, P < 0.01), and it correlated with 6MWS ( r = 0.492) and grip strength (r = 0.286) in the sarcopenia group (P < 0.001). The time of 5STS correlated with muscle volume ( r = 0.258, r = 0.321), grip strength (r = 0.351, r = 0.462) and 6MWS (r = 0.337, r = 0.396) in both groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion Compared with muscle mass and strength, the muscle activities remain well in the old women in the process of aging. Both static and dynamic balance reduce in the old women with sarcopenia. The static balance mainly relates with muscle activities, while the dynamic balance relates with all the muscle mass, strength and activities.

Key words: old woman, sarcopenia, balance, muscle strength, muscle mass, muscle activities