Relationships between body composition and physical function among community-dwelling elderly

Abstract

[Purpose] We investigated the relationship between body composition and physical function of elderly women. [Subjects] The subjects were 26 community-dwelling elderly women with an average age of 68.2 ± 5.4 years. [Methods] We measured body composition (skeletal muscle and fat volumes) and physical function (grip strength, quadriceps femoris strength, toe grip strength, circumference, one-leg standing time, walking speed) and investigated their relationships by determining Pearson's correlation coefficents. [Results] Correlations were found between skeletal muscle volume and upper and lower limb strengths. However, no significant correlation was found between skeletal muscle and one-leg standing time or walking speed. [Conclusions] The skeletal muscle volume, obtained from measurement of body composition, showed it was a possible reflection of the muscle strength of elderly women; however, we assume that since walking and balance function involve factors other than muscle strength, they showed no association with it.