Alternative to Gait Speed in Sarcopenia Assessment

Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Elderly; Sarcopenia

Treatments: Other: physical performance tests

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07065448

IstPRMTRH-TYY1

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to assess the reliability of the Elbow Performance Test as an upper extremity-based alternative for evaluating sarcopenia severity. Unlike traditional lower extremity-focused assessments, this test may offer a practical solution for individuals with mobility limitations or comorbidities affecting the lower limbs. Participants will include older adults with sarcopenia and healthy young adults. Functional tests, including the 4-meter Gait Speed Test, SPPB, TUG, and the Elbow Performance Test, will be administered twice within a 7-10-day interval. Reliability will be analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Full description

Background:Sarcopenia is a generalized and progressive skeletal muscle disorder characterized by a decline in muscle strength, mass, and function. The severity of sarcopenia is commonly assessed using functional performance tests, which are also used for monitoring disease progression and treatment response. However, lower extremity-based tests may have limited applicability in the presence of various comorbidities.

Objective: This study proposes an upper extremity-based alternative, the Elbow Performance Test, and aims to evaluate its reliability in comparison to the commonly used 4-meter Gait Speed Test.

Method:This planned cross-sectional study will include two groups: older adults with sarcopenia and healthy young adults. All participants will undergo the 4-meter Gait Speed Test, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Elbow Performance Test on two separate occasions, with a 7-10-day interval between sessions. In the Elbow Performance Test, a 1-kilogram sandbag will be attached to the distal forearm of the dominant arm, and participants will be instructed to perform 30 consecutive elbow flexion-extension movements. The total time required to complete the repetitions will be recorded. The reliability of the test will be evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Enrollment: 96 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who consent to participate in the study

  *Sarcopenia Group

• Male participants aged 60 years or older

• Diagnosed with sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 criteria

  *Healthy Young Control Group

• Male participants aged 40 years or younger

• SARC-F screening test score < 4

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to cooperate
• Poor general condition due to acute medical problems
• Chronic decompensated cardiac, renal, or hepatic failure
• Presence of rheumatologic, psychiatric, or neurological disorders
• Use of performance-enhancing or fatigue-reducing medications

Trial design

96 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1

Description:

older adults with sarcopenia

Treatment:

Other: physical performance tests

Group 2

Description:

healthy young adults

Treatment:

Other: physical performance tests