Relationships between Lower Limb Skeletal Muscle Morphology and Physical Function and Life Spaces of Female Users of Day-care Rehabilitation with Sarcopenia

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the relationship between life space and the lower limb skeletal muscle morphology and physical function of day-care users with sarcopenia. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 60 female day-care users. Measurements of physical function, muscle thickness of the lower limbs, and muscle echo intensity, and a Life Space Assessment (LSA) were made. The correlations between LSA and each variable in each group were examined. [Results] The variables that showed significant correlations with LSA in the sarcopenia group were grip strength, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), thickness of the thigh muscle, and echo intensity of the lower leg muscles. TUG was found to have the greatest impact on LSA. [Conclusion] To understand the life spaces of the subjects of this study, it is suggested that evaluating skeletal muscle morphology with a focus on walking performance ability is important.