Physical Therapy Strategies to Prevent Sarcopenia and Frailty for Japanese Elderly People.

Abstract

Aging well has been declared a global health priority by the World Health Organization. The age-related loss of muscle mass and/or strength and performance, sarcopenia, has been associated with geriatric syndromes, morbidity, and mortality. Frailty is the decline in an individual’s homeostatic function, strength and physiologic reserves leading to increased vulnerability. The sarcopenia and frailty lead to the fall and fracture and becomes the cause of bedridden.

The proportion of the Japanese population aged over 65 years was 26.7% in 2015, but it will be predicted to be 30.3 %, at 2025. So, it is a national problem to prevent sarcopenia and frailty of elderly people.

Sarcopenia defined as combined low muscle mass, strength and physical performance. Using commonly used cut-off points to define sarcopenia, including solely muscle mass and combined definitions, on a community-dwelling elderly Japanese population. Muscle mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Body mass index was the most prominent related factor for sarcopenia across the definitions in this Japanese sample. Physical performance is measured by One leg standing time, walking speed, timed up and go test, and time required to stand-up five times form a chair.

Physical therapy strategies for sarcopenia and frailty are as follows;

1) At first, it is important to educate correct knowledge concerning sarcopenia and frailty.

2) There are some methods of maintaining and improving muscular strength.

3) The balance training is necessary to improve physical function and ADL.

4) Physical therapy combined nutritional intervention, there is scope for early intervention to prevent disability since both sarcopenia and frailty.