Relationship Between Configuration of the Thigh and Motor Function in Elderly Females

Abstract

We measured the circumference of the thigh and thickness of the quadriceps femoris of elderly females, and investigated their relationships with quadriceps femoris strength and walking and balance abilities. [Subjects] The subjects were 56 community-dwelling elderly females: average age, 71.6  6.5. [Method] We measured the circumference of the thigh at 10, 15 and 20 cm above the patella and the quadriceps femoris thickness, and investigated their relationships with quadriceps femoris strength, walking speed and the timed up-and-go test (TUG) using Pearson's correlation coefficient. [Results] Significant relationships were found between all of the values of thigh circumference and quadriceps femoris thickness and quadriceps femoris strength, and the muscle thicknesses at 15 and 20 cm above the patella had high correlation coefficients. Furthermore, significant correlations with TUG and walking speed were found only for muscle thicknesses at 15 and 20 cm above the patella. [Conclusion] The results suggest that quadriceps femoris thickness at 15 and 20 cm above the patella will be a useful index, reflecting not only the muscle strength but also walking and balance abilities.

Thigh and calf circumference for the sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling elderly women

“…Murata et al measured thigh circumference of elderly women and reported that the measurement site at 20 cm up (47.8 ± 4.1cm) from the upper edge of the patella was more associated with quadriceps strength than that at 10 cm up (40.6 ± 3.6 cm) and 15 cm up (44.7 ± 3.9 cm) from the upper edge of the patella. 9 In this study, measurement was performed at the 1/2 between the lateral knee joint cleft and the greater trochanter. We found that thigh circumference of the dominant leg of the non-sarcopenia subjects and the sarcopenia subjects were 41.1 ± 4.0 (cm) and 37.4 ± 2.8 (cm), respectively.…”