AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF MUSCLES IN THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF JAPANESE MEN AND WOMEN

Abstract

In this study, the cross-sectional areas of the thigh and calf muscles were measured for approximately 800 participants, including the elderly requiring long-term care and the late-stage elderly. We examined the age-related changes in the muscle areas that were excluded from the effects of body weight and height. Although the decreases in age were different, the muscle areas decreased with age. It was suggested that the muscle areas of the late-stage elderly were greatly decreased compared with those of the early-stage elderly. In addition, the process of decrease in calf muscle area varies depending on gender. The present results are likely to show the standard values of age-related decreases in muscle areas.