Relationship between lower-limb muscle strength and functional independence among elderly people according to frailty criteria: a cross-sectional study.

Context And Objective: Muscle strength and functional independence are considered to be determinants of frailty levels among elderly people. The aim here was to compare lower-limb muscle strength (LLMS) with functional independence in relation to sex, age and number of frailty criteria, and to ascertain the influence of these variables on elderly outpatients' independence.

Design And Setting: Quantitative cross-sectional study, in a tertiary hospital.

Relationship between lower-limb muscle strength and frailty among elderly people.

Context And Objective: Sarcopenia is the main factor involved in the development of frailty syndrome. The aims here were to investigate relationships between lower-limb muscle strength and the variables of sex, age and frailty criteria; compare lower-limb muscle strength with each frailty criterion; and assess the power of each criterion for estimating the risk of frailty among elderly outpatients.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study at the Geriatrics Outpatient Clinic of a university hospital in Campinas.