This study aimed to characterize physical function and functional capacity related to low muscle mass and sarcopenia in older women with low bone mass. In the study, 122 older women with bone loss were included and divided into three groups according to the presence or absence of muscle loss and sarcopenia; bone loss only, bone loss and muscle loss, and bone loss and sarcopenia groups. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted using the three groups as dependent variables. Body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio; 0.566, 95% confidence interval; 0.431-0.742), Kihon checklist of “motor function” (odds ratio; 2.230, 95% confidence interval; 1.179-4.217), and “homebound” (odds ratio; 5.123, 95% confidence interval; 1.122-23.391) were extracted as relevant factors in the bone loss and sarcopenia group. In addition to low BMI, sarcopenia in older women with reduced bone mass is associated with lower “motor function” and “homebound” functional capacity.

This study investigated the physiological responses and effects of exercise training under hypoxic conditions at the skeletal muscle level induced by reducing muscle temperature in cold water environment. Participants were divided into two intervention groups, cooling and control conditions, according to the water temperature of 15°C and 33°C where the training were conducted in. Eight participants in each group performed submaximal cycling exercise in the water for 30 minutes at the lactate threshold (LT) intensity, three times a week for four weeks (12 sessions). LT intensity was assessed at pre- and post-intervention in a 33°C water temperature environment. A progressive load cycling test was performed on land to assess maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and Wingate test was conducted to measure anaerobic power. In the cooling group, working muscle deoxygenation increased during submaximal and maximal exercise, suggesting an improvement in the muscle oxygen extraction capacity. However, no effects on aerobic capacity such as VO_2max or LT intensity were observed. The improvement in mean power and time to peak during the Wingate test in the cooling group indicated that LT intensity exercise training in a cold water environment would increase anaerobic power.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of participating in a voluntary community-based square-stepping exercise (SSE) salon and analyze the effects of different activity frequencies (weekly or biweekly) in the SSE salon on the physical functions of community-dwelling older women. Older women attending the SSE salon were enrolled in the study, and measurements of physical functions (grip strength, one-leg standing, 5 m walk, timed up and go [TUG], and chair-stand in 30 s) were performed at pre and post intervention for SSE salon development and at 1 year following voluntary activity initiation (1-year follow-up) (mean age: 77.1 ± 7.2 years). Participants were divided into two groups (a weekly group performing SSE once a week and a biweekly group performing SSE once every 2 weeks) and were analyzed accordingly. The results revealed interaction in the TUG test, with significant improvement observed in the weekly group at preintervention, postintervention, and 1-year follow-up. Conversely, the biweekly group significantly improved at the 1-year follow-up compared with the pre and postintervention groups. No significant difference was observed in other parameters. In conclusion, regular participation in the SSE salon, even if the frequency is biweekly, was suggested to be effective in maintaining and improving physical function.