Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32451962›Full record

ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2021

Does skeletal muscle morphology or functional performance better explain variance in fast gait speed in older adults?

Daniel Komforti, Chett Joffe, Adonis Magras, Alexander Peller, Emily Garbe, Rishi Garib, Ashleigh Trapuzzano, Nicole Dawson, Matt S Stock

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Daniel KomfortiSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Chett JoffeSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Adonis MagrasSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Alexander PellerSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Emily GarbeSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Rishi GaribSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Ashleigh TrapuzzanoSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Nicole DawsonSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA.
Matt S StockSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1-Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA. matt.stock@ucf.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1156-1084

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFast gait speed is being increasingly recognized as an important clinical tool in older adults. However, the underlying muscular and functional contributors to fast gait speed performance remain poorly understood.

aimWe sought to determine predictors of fast gait speed in older adults. We hypothesized that lower-extremity skeletal muscle size and quality would be strong predictors.

methodsNinety community-dwelling older adults (33 men, 57 women; mean ± SD age = 74 ± 6 years) participated. B-mode ultrasonography was used to capture images of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius in the transverse plane. Each participant performed 30-second chair stand, heel-rise, functional reach, and grip strength tests. Fast gait speed was measured using the NIH Toolbox 4-Meter Walk Test. ImageJ software was used to quantify cross-sectional area (CSA), subcutaneous tissue thickness, and echo intensity. Two separate stepwise regression analyses were performed, one using muscle morphology variables as independent variables, and another including the functional outcomes.

resultsThe ultrasound variables exhibited weak-to-moderate correlations with fast gait speed (|r| range = 0.168-0.416). The initial regression analysis indicated that the combination of medial gastrocnemius CSA and subcutaneous tissue thickness explained 22.8% of the variance in fast gait speed. The secondary analysis indicated that 30-second chair stand, heel-rise, and grip strength performance explained 45.5% of the variance.

conclusionWhile medial gastrocnemius morphology is important, measures of upper and lower-extremity muscle function are better predictors of fast gait speed. These results highlight a dissociation between skeletal muscle morphology and fast gait speed.

Indexed as

Muscle StrengthWalking SpeedAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGaitHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalPhysical Functional PerformanceQuadriceps MuscleEcho intensityFast gait speedFunctional testsMuscle qualityUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID32451962

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.