Appendicular muscle mass and exercise/sports participation history in young Japanese women.

It remains unclear how past exercise habits can affect the skeletal muscle mass in adulthood in Japanese populations. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the association of appendicular muscle mass (AMM) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) with the history of exercise and/or physical activity participation in Japanese women. One hundred and twenty females, aged between 18 and 28 years old, participated in the present investigation. Using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner, the appendicular lean soft tissue, which is considered as a measure of AMM, was evaluated. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was also assessed. Furthermore, all subjects answered a physical activity questionnaire. Exercise habits at 7 years of age or older positively affected the AMM and SMI. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that exercise history at 16-18 years of age as well as the current status of exercise and/or physical activity participation was a significant predictor of SMI and AMM. These results indicate that not only the past history of participation in physical and/or sports activities but also the current status of daily physical activity and sports activity play an important role in maintaining appropriate SMI and AMM in young women.