Relationship between site-specific loss of thigh muscle and gait performance in women: the HIREGASAKI study

Sarcopenia is observed as a site-specific loss of skeletal muscle mass, however, it is unknown whether the site-specific sarcopenia is associated with development of physical disability. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between age-related thigh muscle loss and gait performance. Fifty-three women aged 52-83 years had their thigh muscle thickness (MTH) measured by ultrasound at five sites on the anterior (30%, 50%, and 70% of thigh length) and posterior (50% and 70% of thigh length) aspects of their thigh. Maximum and normal walking speeds, zig-zag walking time, and maximal voluntary isometric knee extension and flexion strength were measured. Age was inversely correlated to the anterior and posterior MTH ratio (e.g., anterior 50%:posterior 70% MTH ratio [r=-0.426, p=0.002]), thus the site-specific muscle loss of the thigh was observed in the present sample. There were no significant correlations between the anterior/posterior MTH ratio and maximum and normal walking speeds. However, the ratios of anterior 50%:posterior 70% MTH (r=-0.430) and anterior 30%:posterior 70% MTH (r=-0.444) were correlated (p=0.001) to zig-zag walking test. After adjusting for age, height and weight, the anterior 30%:posterior 70% MTH (r=-0.292, p=0.040) was inversely correlated to zig-zag walking performance. Isometric knee extension strength was also inversely correlated to zig-zag walking. Our results suggest that an age-related loss of adductor/quadriceps muscles may be associated with a decrease in a relatively difficult task performance such as zig-zag walking.