The Relationship between Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength in the Elderly

To determine the extent that muscle mass is predictive of muscle strength in the elderly, anthropomorphic estimates of muscle area and impedance measurements of muscle mass and peak isometric muscle strength were obtained in a relatively healthy older population over 65 years of age (mean age = 71.7; n = 218). Midarm muscle area correlated strongly with upper arm strength (r = 0.68, P < 0.0001) while midthigh muscle area had a much lower...