Relation between ability of sitting and standing up from the floor and muscle thickness in elderly

It is well-known that physiological function decreases following aging. Especially to decline of muscle strength has a detrimental effect on the physical activity in daily life. In the current study, the relationship between muscle thickness in leg and time of sitting and standing up from the floor in aged individuals. Fifty seven males and 56 females with ages over 60 years old were the subject. They were all retired. Muscle thickness were measured by using B-scan ultrasound equipment with a 5MHz transducer at the following site; biceps, triceps, subscupular, abdomen, quadriceps, and hamstrings. The test of sitting and standing up from the floor, and sitting down and standing up from the chair; the subject sits up from the floor in voluntary manner. As soon as the subject stands up, he or she takes the ball on the disc adjusted to his or her eyes level in front position and sits on the chair placed on his or her left side. Then the subject puts the ball in the cup and takes the other ball from the other cup on the floor. Thereafter, the subject stands up immediately and puts the ball in the cup on the disc. Time to accomplish whole activities of this test was measured. Following results were obtained. 1) The thigh area had the greatest values in the muscle thickness in male and females. No differences in the muscle thickness between the anterior and posterior regions of thigh were observed in the subjects over 70 years old. However, the values in subjects under 70 years old were greater in the posterior than in anterior area. 2) Age-dependent differences were not observed in the muscle thickness of other areas. 3) The time of sitting and standing up from the floor was positively correlated with age in both sexes. 4) The time of sitting and standing up had a significant negative correlation with the muscle thickness values at the anterior thigh region in both sexes. It is suggested that aged-individuals need to train leg muscles, especially quadriceps, in order to spend healthy life, since it is indicated that the strength of quadriceps affects the sitting and standing up action.