Can Handgrip Strength Improve Following Body Mass-Based Lower Body Exercise?

Knee extension strength (KES) improves following body mass-based lower body exercise training; however, it is unknown whether this type of exercise increases handgrip strength (HGS) as a result of a cross-education effect in older individuals. Our aim was to investigate the effect of a body mass-based exercise intervention on HGS and KES in older adults. At baseline, 166 subjects started a 12-week intervention program, and 160 (108 women and 52 men) subjects completed the study.

Associations of sit-up ability with sarcopenia classification measures in Japanese older women.

To test the hypothesis that sit-up performance is associated with sarcopenia classification measures, 93 older women aged 53-78 years were divided into three groups based on achieved repetitions (30 s) for the sit-up performance test: Group 0 (G 0,  = 33) performed 0 repetitions, Group 1-9 (G 1-9,  = 30) performed between 1 and 9 repetitions, and Group 10+ (G 10+,  = 30) performed over 10 repetitions. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived appendicular lean soft tissue mass (aLM), handgrip strength (HGS), usual walking speed, and chair stand were measured, and low muscle mass (aLM index) and poor physical function were defined according to previous studies. Age and body mass index were similar among the three groups.