Relationship between quadriceps muscle strength, anterior femoral muscle/fat thickness, femoral circumference, and anterior femoral muscle hardness among elderly with care needs

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the relationship between quadriceps muscle strength and four indices (anterior femoral muscle/fat thickness, femoral circumference,and anterior femoral muscle hardness) among the elderly with care needs. The following indices were assessed among 60 elderly individuals with care needs (23 males, 80.1±7.9 years, 37 females, 82.6±4.9 years, total:120 bilateral lower limbs): quadriceps muscle strength, anterior femoral muscle/fat thickness, femoral circumference, and anterior femoral muscle hardness. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that quadriceps muscle strength was significantly correlated with femoral circumference in males and femoral muscle thickness (p<0.05 for both) in females. These results suggest that the femoral circumference in males and the femoral muscle thickness in females reflect the quadriceps muscle strength among the elderly with care needs.