To examine the independent and combined associations of handgrip strength (HGS) and knee extension strength (KES) with global cognition in community-dwelling older adults. Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a prospective cohort. A total of 279 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older living independently (mean age 76.8 ± 5.9; 26.5% men). Low strength was defined as the sex-specific lowest quartile (Q1). Multiple linear regression estimated differences in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores adjusting for age, sex, education, and depressive symptoms (GDS-15). We examined (1) HGS and KES together, (2) 4 exclusive groups (low KES only, low HGS only, both low, neither), and (3) sensitivity analyses including skeletal muscle index and sex-stratified analyses using weight-normalized KES. Low KES related to lower MMSE (Model 1 B, -0.882; 95% CI, -1.542 to -0.223, P = .009; Model 2 B, -0.892; 95% CI, -1.564 to -0.219; P = .010). Low HGS was not significant (P ≥ .27). When both were included, low KES remained significant (B, -0.814; 95% CI, -1.509 to -0.119; P = .022) but low HGS did not. In 4-group analysis, both low KES and HGS vs neither showed lower MMSE (B, -1.054; 95% CI, -1.984 to -0.112; P = .027). Associations for KES persisted after adjusting for skeletal muscle index (B, -0.842; 95% CI, -1.522 to -0.161; P = .016). In sex-stratified models, weight-normalized KES was associated with MMSE in men (B, 6.598; 95% CI, 2.258 to 10.939; P = .004) but not in women. Lower KES shows a consistent and independent association with global cognition; combined weakness in upper and lower limbs signals greater cognitive deficit. Adding KES to community screening may improve early detection of cognitive vulnerability.

Handgrip strength and body composition in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A cross-section study.

Investigating text neck syndrome and duration of mobile phone use, muscle activity, hand grip strength, posture, and disability.

Quality of life, grip strength, health indicators, and clinical risk in older adults: A cross-sectional study.

Lung transplant recipients are at increased risk of sarcopenia and osteoporosis, which may negatively influence respiratory outcomes. Although muscle health is known to affect lung function, little is known about the long-term interplay between muscle parameters and pulmonary volumes, especially across sexes. The objective of this study is to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between muscle mass and strength and respiratory function in lung transplant patients, with sex-specific analysis. This prospective cohort included three assessments (baseline ≥ 3 months after transplant, ~1 year and 2-3 years). The primary outcome was the longitudinal change in pulmonary function (VC, FVC, FEV1 and TLC) in relation to appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI) and handgrip strength (HGS). Associations at baseline were tested with multivariable linear regression. Analyses were performed with linear mixed-effects models (LMM) including random intercepts for subject, time as a fixed effect and interactions between time and muscle parameters, adjusted for age, ADL, corticosteroid dose, vertebral fractures, osteoporosis, comorbidities and time since transplant. We studied 155 recipients (43.2% women, age 48.7 ± 13.3 years). Primary indications were cystic fibrosis (30.1%), restrictive (22.2%), obstructive (15.7%), miscellaneous (26.8%) and vascular diseases (5.2%). At baseline, HGS was independently associated with higher VC (R2: 0.63, β = 0.35, p = 0.001 in women; R2: 0.58, β = 0.16, p < 0.001 in men) and FEV1 (R2: 0.51, β = 0.08, p = 0.020 in women; R2: 0.57, β = 0.19, p = 0.009 in men). ASMMI was independently associated with VC in both sexes (women: R2: 0.58, β = 0.31, p = 0.003; men: R2: 0.40, β = 0.16, p = 0.023). Longitudinally, LMMs showed that higher HGS was associated with more favourable trajectories of pulmonary function over follow-up. Specifically, among women with restrictive disease, lower ASMMI predicted higher FEV1 (β = -4.95, 95% CI -6.93 to -2.97, p = 0.007) and higher TLC (β = -2.22, 95% CI -4.56 to -1.12, p = 0.04) over time. In women with cystic fibrosis, stronger HGS was associated with improved TLC (β = 0.38, p = 0.04). All associations persisted after full adjustment. Muscle mass and strength are associated with lung function after lung transplantation. These findings underscore the clinical importance of muscle health and support its integration into post-transplant management.

The effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate on sarcopenia in stable decompensated cirrhosis: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

With an aging population, muscle health, encompassing locomotion and metabolic function, has become a public health priority. Handgrip strength is a validated surrogate measure of general muscle strength, but measurement may not be feasible in low-resource settings. The SARC-F questionnaire (Strength, Assistance in walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls) provides a simple, low-cost, and practical tool for sarcopenia screening, though its optimal cut-off remains debated. To evaluate the predictive validity of SARC-F cut-off scores in identifying low muscle strength among community-dwelling older adults in a low-income population. We included 733 participants (221 men, 512 women; aged 60-95years) from the Amazonas region of Brazil. All completed the SARC-F and underwent handgrip strength testing. Low handgrip strength was based on EWGSOP2 criteria (<27kg men, <16kg women). Agreement, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and ROC curves were calculated for cut-offs ≥4 and≥2, stratified by sex. Low handgrip strength was highly prevalent (47.1% in men, 94.1% in women). Agreement between SARC-F and muscle weakness was generally poor (κ <0.4), except for men at the ≥4 threshold (κ=0.41). Sensitivity was higher in men than in women (≥4: 48% vs 37%; ≥2: 70% vs 69%). Lowering the cut-off to ≥2 improved sensitivity but reduced specificity (65.8% men, 56.7% women). ROC analysis identified ≥2 as the optimal threshold, with AUC 0.68 in men and 0.63 in women. A SARC-F cut-off of ≥2 improves sensitivity for detecting probable sarcopenia and may be more suitable for screening in low-income settings. Longitudinal validation is warranted across diverse populations.

Sarcopenia as a risk factor for incident pain in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal evidence from the CHARLS cohort.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a protein that is produced by senescent cells during the aging process. Its level in blood increases with age and is associated with an increased risk of several age-related diseases and mortality. We measured GDF15 level in serum archived 1174 men and women aged between 70 and 79yr in the Health Aging and Body Composition study who had measurements of BMD of the hip, markers of bone turnover (PINP and CTX) and tested for several physical functions (6m gait speed, standing balance and grip strength, BMI, and appendicular lean mass) and falls, and were followed-up for incident fracture. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hip fracture risk by increasing GDF15 quartiles. The mean GDF15 was significantly higher in men than in women (p < .0001) and the level significantly increased with age, slower gait speed, lower standing balance test time, and lower handgrip strength. During 11.5 (SD 4.5)yr of follow-up, 93 (8%) of the participants suffered a hip fracture and the risk was higher among women (p < .015), associated with older age, lower BMI, lower FN and TH BMD, lower appendicular lean mass, and weaker grip strength. In the unadjusted hazard model participants in the highest quartile of GDF15 had a 2-fold increased hip fracture risk (HR 2.12, p < .014) that remained significant after adjustment for age and sex (p < .037). However, the association was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for grip strength (HR 1.8, 95% CI: 0.97-3.34; p < .06). In conclusion, increased GDF15 is a predictor of hip fractures. This relationship might be partially mediated by muscle function and low lean mass but not BMD.

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity may increase surgical complications and impact recovery and function after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). We assessed the feasibility of identifying these conditions in an orthopedic practice setting using published consensus criteria. Patients in a lower extremity TJA clinic were assessed for sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity using EWGSOP2 and ESPEN/EASO diagnostic frameworks, respectively. Low strength testing involved maximal handgrip strength (HGS) and number of chair sit-to-stands in 30 seconds (CSTS). Same day dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing was used to assess for low muscle mass (i.e. appendicular lean soft tissue) in patients with low strength. One hundred-one of a possible 128 patients were assessed in clinic (93% male, mean age 69.6±8.9 years and BMI 31.7±7.9 kg/m2). HGS was completed in 99% of screened patients; only 44.5% completed CSTS due to joint pain and balance limitations. Thirty-nine patients had low strength and were recommended for DXA. In 16 patients who completed DXA, 3 had sarcopenia and 5 had sarcopenic obesity. Screening for sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was challenging to complete in all patients during routine clinic flow with dedicated personnel. Despite our pragmatic approach and limited screening completion in all patients, we identified sarcopenic and sarcopenic obesity in 6.25% of patients. This is likely a lower bound for the true prevalence but suggests an opportunity to assess and intervene for these conditions before surgery to improve total joint arthroplasty outcomes.

The influence of sexual activity prior to exercise on athletic performance remains controversial. While pre-competition abstinence is commonly advised, scientific evidence on its physiological impact is limited and inconsistent. A randomized crossover study was conducted in 21 well-trained male athletes (age 22 ± 1 y) to compare the acute effects of masturbation-induced orgasm versus sexual abstinence performed 30 min before testing. Each participant completed an incremental cycling test and an isometric handgrip strength test under both conditions. Blood samples were analyzed for muscle damage (CK, LDH, Mb), inflammatory (CRP, IL-6), and hormonal (testosterone, cortisol, LH) markers. Compared with abstinence, the post-masturbation condition resulted in a longer exercise duration (+3.2%, p< 0.01) and higher heart rate (p< 0.001), accompanied by a small increase in mean handgrip strength (p< 0.05). Lower plasma LDH levels (p< 0.001) indicated reduced muscle stress. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were significantly higher (both p< 0.001), whereas inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6) showed no significant change. Masturbation 30 min before exercise elicited mild sympathetic and hormonal activation without detrimental effects on performance or muscle damage. These findings suggest that pre-exercise sexual activity does not impair athletic capacity in trained men, challenging the long-standing myth of mandatory abstinence before competition.

Promoting healthy aging: A systematic review of the transformative effects of nutritional interventions in elderly population.

Usefulness of the bioimpedance phase angle in identifying older adults with poor muscle properties: The Shizuoka study.

Outcomes in clinical trials on sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Iron dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction in aging: A longitudinal study on mobility decline in low- and high-functioning older adults.

COVID-19 may be associated with unfavourable body composition changes. This includes increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass, which can lead to sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO), conditions associated with impaired physical performance and reduced quality of life, among other adverse outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia and SO in individuals who recovered from the first COVID-19 wave and their association with functional outcomes. Clinical characteristics, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), functional status (handgrip strength [HGS], 6-min walk test [6MWT]), and lung function (spirometry) were collected. 37 individuals (89.2 % Caucasians, 64.9 % females, median age 48 years [IQR: 40; 60], 10.8 % > 65y) were assessed after a median of 189 days (IQR: 169; 201) post-COVID-19 infection. The combined prevalence of sarcopenia/SO was 40.5 %, was identified in 37.8 %, while a single case (2.7 %) of sarcopenia without obesity was found. The sarcopenia/SO group had lower 6MWT and phase angle, and higher prevalence of hypertension. Sarcopenia/SO was negatively associated with 6MWT performance (β: -115.35, 95 % CI: -161.57 to -69.12), COVID-19 symptoms, disease severity, and duration were not associated with sarcopenia/SO diagnosis. A high presence of sarcopenia/SO was identified and was negatively associated with health outcomes in individuals post-COVID-19. Thus, it is important to assess and address conditions associated with abnormal body composition after infectious diseases to better inform strategies for improving long-term outcomes.

Nano-curcumin mitigates muscle impairment in hypoxic hindlimb-unloaded mice.

Individualized physical activity program for older adults undergoing chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies.

Long-term behavioral and physiological consequences of developmental group size history in mice.

Background: Lumbar Radiculopathy is a widespread global concern, impacting about 70% of individuals at some point in their lives. Muscle weakness is a common contributor to Lumbar radiculopathy, and hand grip strength is a widely recognized measure of overall muscle health. This study seeks to explore the correlation between hand grip strength and varying intensities of Lumbar radiculopathy. Objective: To determine the association between hand grip strength and the severity of lumbar radiculopathy among adults aged 18–40 years diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar. Methodology: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted following ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board, over a six-month duration, using a non-probability convenience sampling. Written informed consent was secured in both English and Urdu. Participants were assured that their involvement was entirely voluntary and that they had the right to withdraw from the study at any stage without facing any repercussions. About 675 males and females aged 18 to 40 years, diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy, with a minimum duration of three months, were considered eligible. Individuals having multiple sclerosis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, recent injuries, surgeries, or amputations were excluded. For participants based on the 50th percentile, the groups were then divided into strong hand and weak hand grip strength. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and grip strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer. Demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables were expressed as means with standard deviations. Associations between categorical variables were examined using the chi-square test, and statistical significance was defined at a p-value below 0.05. Result: The mean age of participants was 31(7.13) years; Pearson’s correlation coefficient (0.239) showed no significant association between Lumbar radiculopathy and hand grip strength. Conclusion: This study reported that no significant association was found between lumbar radiculopathy and hand grip strength among young adults.