[Transdisciplinary Approach for Sarcopenia. Sarcopenia and physical disability in older adults]

We investigated the effects of age on muscle atrophy and the relationship of locomotor ability with the sarcopenia in trunk and lower-limb muscle using ultrasound. Age-related muscle atrophy in elderly women was greatest for the psoas major and internal oblique muscles among the trunk and lower limb muscles. The age-related decline in gluteus medius muscle was closely associated with daily physical activity. Physical disability influenced muscle atrophy in the trunk and lower limbs, especially in the quadriceps femoris, soleus, transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscles among elderly women. These findings may be a useful guideline for muscle strength training to prevent physical disability in the elderly people.