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,Fawzi Kadi

doi:10.3390/ijerph18030989

Jort Veen, Diego Montiel-Rojas + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18030989

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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.

Highlights

Sarcopenia is a progressive skeletal muscle disorder clinically defined by low levels of muscle strength and muscle mass, with physical performance as an indicator of severity [1].Older adults with sarcopenia are at a higher risk of falls, disability, loss of independence, and mortality [2].Given the global ageing trend, with the estimated number of people worldwide aged over 65 years reaching nearly 1.5 billion in 2050 [3], it is expected that approximately500 million older adults will be diagnosed with sarcopenia [4]
Promotion of health-enhancing physical activity is widely endorsed by major public health organizations, stipulating at least 150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as crucial for healthy ageing [5]
We show, for the first time, that enengagement in muscle strengthening activities (MSA) according to current PA guidelines is related to a lower sarcopenia gagement in MSA according to current PA guidelines is related to a lower sarcopenia risk, risk, with higher skeletal muscle index (SMI) and better physical performance in older adults who fulfil the PA

Summary

Introduction

Older adults with sarcopenia are at a higher risk of falls, disability, loss of independence, and mortality [2]. 500 million older adults will be diagnosed with sarcopenia [4]. There is an urgent need to combat the growing societal burden related to sarcopenia progression and related co-morbidities. In this context, promotion of health-enhancing physical activity is widely endorsed by major public health organizations, stipulating at least 150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as crucial for healthy ageing [5]. Regular physical activity is considered to be important for preventing sarcopenia development [6]. The recently updated PA guidelines for older adults recommend engagement in muscle strengthening activities (MSA), at least two times per week [5], sup-

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