Eur Geriatr Med. 2025 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s41999-025-01327-4. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To examine the association of muscle strengthening activities with knee extension strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle index in adultsaged 50-64 and ≥65 years.
FINDINGS: Muscle strengthening activities are linked to better gait speed, knee extension strength, and skeletal muscle index mainly in middle-aged adults (50-64 years), with weaker or no associations in older adults except for higher activity frequency (≥8 sessions/month), benefi tingstrength in those ≥65 years.
MESSAGE: Muscle strengthening activities are linked to better physical function and muscle health in middle-aged compared to older adults,although frequency may be a confounding parameter.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the association of muscle strengthening activities (MSA) with knee extension strength (KES) and gait speed (GS) (n = 2169), and skeletal muscle index (SMI; n = 765) in adults aged 50-64 and ≥ 65 years.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018 cycles. MSA were self-reported based on engagement with weightlifting, push-ups, or sit-ups. MSA frequency was categorized as ≥ 8 or < 8 sessions/month. Linear and logistic regressions were performed, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates.
RESULTS: MSA were associated with improved GS and KES across adults aged 50-64 years in fully adjusted models (GS: β = -0.24, 95% CI – 0.42 to – 0.07; KES: β = 31.7, 95% CI 18.9 to 44.5) but not in those ≥ 65 years (GS: p = 0.07; KES: p = 0.11). For SMI, a significant positive association emerged only in the 50-64-year old group after adjustments (β = 0.18, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.34; ≥ 65 years → p = 0.53). Age interaction (≥ 65 vs. 50-64 years) showed significant MSA associations with GS and KES, though SMI results were inconsistent. Finally, higher MSA frequency for ≥ 65 versus 50-64 years was linked to higher KES (β = 22.0, p = 0.03), but not GS (p = 0.05) or SMI (p = 0.64).
CONCLUSIONS: MSA are associated with higher KES and GS in middle-aged, but not in older adults. Higher MSA frequency is linked to increased KES in older adults.
PMID:41082171 | DOI:10.1007/s41999-025-01327-4
