Muscle strength in ostensibly healthy non-diabetic subjects

Sarcopenia and decreased muscle strength (dynapenia) are emerging health issues. However, the study exploring muscle strength changes of both upper and lower limbs at the same time among all age groups is rare. This study aims to investigate the muscle strength and to establish a muscle strength norm of an ostensibly healthy non-diabetic Asian population.

From 2018 June to 2020 March, subjects (aged from 20 to <80 years old) undergoing health checkup in Good Liver Medical Examination Center and National Taiwan University Hospital Geriatrics and Gerontology Department were enrolled. A battery of muscle power examinations including handgrip strength (HGS), five times sit-to-stand test (5TSTS), and one-leg standing test (OLST) were performed.

A total of 183 participants was enrolled, consisting of 92 females and 91 males. The finding shows the strongest HGS, best 5TSTS, and the longest OLST of both genders appeared in the 20-29-year-old group. Age, gender, and palm length are significantly related to HGS, whereas age is the only factor affecting 5TSTS and OLST. It revealed a progressive decline during ageing process, especially after age 60. Finally, Z-score and T-score norms of these were established.

These data will be useful as normal controls for muscle strength of specific disease groups. The application of the cutoffs from these data and their comparisons with the recommended cutoffs from various guidelines worth further exploration.