DFW Home Health Research Review

The goal of this quarterly research review is to provide easy-access to current research for our team at LHC Group to help better serve our patients.

Loss of muscle mass associated with morbidity and mortality linked physical disability, falls, fractures, poor quality of life, depression and hospitalization.

• A simple grip strength test using a hand-held dynamometer.
• Isometric grip strength has been shown to be correlated with lower extremity muscle power, knee extension torque, and calf cross-sectional muscle area (Cawthon, 2015).

Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

• Martinez et. al (2015) found that scores greater than 10.85 seconds on the TUG test were correlated with higher likelihoods of a diagnosis of sarcopenia.

4-Meter Gait Speed Test

• Beaudart et al. (2016) found that men and women with a gait speed less than 0.8 m/s are described as having a poor physical performance.
• See video below on how to complete the test:

1. Research has shown a strong correlation between overall muscle mass and risk for functional decline, including:

• Hospitalization
  
• Falls
• Fractures

2. Older adults who have been diagnosed have been shown to have a 3x more likelihood to fall compared to older adults with no diagnosis of sarcopenia.

3. Quadriceps sarcopenia has been correlated with increased risk for falls.

4. Regular exercise can slow the muscle loss associated with normal aging:

• Compare the 40 year-old triathlete and 70 year-old triathlete to the 74 year-old sedentary man.

1. Do not under-load your patients and sell them short of their maximum potential.

2. When appropriate, utilize power-training (emphasizing quick concentric movements and slow eccentric movements) with your geriatric patients.

3. Utilize phrases such as, "Stand up as quickly as you can" while having patients performing exercises, such as squats or sit-to-stand transfers.

1. Tarantino, U. Sarcopenia and Fragility Fractures: Molecular and Clinical Evidence of the Bone-Muscle Interaction. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Web. Oct. 2016.

2. Wroblewski AP, Amati F, Smiley MA, et al. 2011. Chronic exercise preserves lean muscle mass in masters athletes.Phys Sports Med 39(3):172-78.

3. Cawthon, PM. J Clin Densitom. 2015. Assessment of Lean mass and Physical Performance in Sarcopenia. Oct-Dec; 18(4): 467-71.

4. Bohannon RW et al. Average Grip Strength: A Meta-Analysis of Data Obtained with a Jamar Dynamometer from Individuals 75 Years or More of Age. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy Vol. 30;1:07

5. Martinez BP et al. Accuracy of the Timed Up and Go test for predicting sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2015 May; 70(5): 369-372.

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