老年人肌肉減少影響功能性體適能及衰弱程度

The prevalence of chronic diseases increases markedly with advancing age. In particular, the reasons for many chronic diseases in elderly are complex and include sarcopenia and low activity lead to poor functional fitness performance. The loss of muscle mass that occurs with after approximately 40 years of age, is accompanied by 8% per decade decline in muscle mass until 70 years old, as well as raise to 15 % after 70 years old and observed in stable-weight older people. In addition, frailty syndrome is a condition described in aging and characterized by decreased muscle strength and function, endocrine changes, lack of physical activities and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. Therefore, frail older adults are a group increased risk of serious adverse clinical outcomes, including viral and bacterial infections, loss of independence, osteoporosis and increase risk for falls and fractures. Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and prevalence of chronic disease combined may lead to increased frailty, then raise risk for mortality. Regular physical activity increases exercise capacity and plays a role in both functional fitness performance and frailty prevention of mortality.