SarcopeniaExercise For Health.

Q: What is sarcopenia?

A: Sarcopenia is a syndrome involving

low overall muscle mass and reduced

muscle function in the ageing

individual, at least partly as a result of

disuse atrophy

Q: What are the riskfactors for sarcopenia?

A: Individuals with low physical activity and Body

Mass Index (BMI) are at a greater risk for developing

sarcopenia. Functional impairment and low scores

on functional tests such as single leg stance time and

handgrip strength, as well as a history of falls, may

also be risk factors

Q: What factors influencemuscle size and strength

in elderly people?

A: Sarcopenia appears to involve a specific loss of

type II muscle fiber area and muscle fiber number as

a result of denervation. An inability to stimulate

muscle protein synthesis via signalling and increased

oxidative stress may also lead to the accelerated

muscle wasting associated with sarcopenia

Q: Is aerobic exerciseuseful for the treatment of

sarcopenia?

A: Aerobic exercise is beneficial for older adults and

has positive effects on both aerobic and anaerobic

capacity and leads to increases in muscle fiber size

and improvements in functional characteristics

Q: Is resistance-traininguseful in the treatment of

sarcopenia?

A: Resistance training is beneficial to older adults by

offering positive improvements in muscle size and

force characteristics, including peak power, as well

as improving measures of physical function and

health-related quality of life

Q: Are combined exerciseinterventions useful for

sarcopenia?

A: Combined exercise interventions are efficacious

for older adults and have positive outcomes in

physical function, quality of life, muscle strength and

aerobic capacity

Q: What are evidence-based guidelines for

exercise interventions insarcopenia?

A: Guidelines recommend a combined program of

resistance training, aerobic exercise, balance and

flexibility exercises for older adults, several times per

week in order to prevent or combat sarcopenia

For more information:www.exercise-for-health.com/sarcopenia

Exercise For Health.