Comparison of Habitual and Maximal Gait Speed and their Impact on Sarcopenia Quantification in German Nursing Home Residents

Original Article

J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls 2022 Dec; 7(4):199-206 Copied!

10.22540/JFSF-07-199 Copied!

Daniel Haigis^1,2, Silas Wagner^1,2, Gorden Sudeck^2,3, Annika Frahsa⁴, Ansgar Thiel^2,3, Gerhard W. Eschweiler⁵, Andreas M. Niess^1,2

Department of Sports Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany
Interfaculty Research Institute for Sport and Physical Activity, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Institute of Sport Science, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
Centre for Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany

Keywords:

Abstract

Objectives

Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle strength and muscle mass. The EWGSOP2 specifications include physical functioning determination for quantification of the sarcopenia severity. However, there is a lack in the use of habitual and maximal gait speed and their influence on sarcopenia quantification. We hypothesize differences in sarcopenia quantification using habitual and maximal gait speed.

Methods

Sixty-six residents from five nursing homes were examined. Habitual and maximal gait speed were measured by 4-meter-walking-Test. McNemar-Test and χ²-test were used to identify quantification differences. Effect sizes of both gait speeds were calculated with Spearman’s rank-correlation-coefficient.

Results

Significant difference was identified for twenty-two residents in physical functioning classification by McNemar-Test (p<.001). χ²-Test identified a significant frequency distribution for sarcopenia categories between both gait speeds (χ² (df2)=11.215, p=.004; Cramer’s V=.412). Significant correlations (p<.05) were only shown for maximal gait speed in variables falls in the last three months (|r_s| =.326), Barthel-Index (|r_s|=.415), and SARC-F (|r_s|=. 335).

Conclusions

The use of habitual and maximal gait speed has a significant impact on sarcopenia quantification in nursing home residents. An adapted standardization in the EWGSOP2 specifications should follow.