title: Thigh muscle volume predicted by anthropometric measurements and correlated with physical function in the older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) to correlate thigh muscle volume measured by magnetic resonance image (MRI) with anthropometric measurements and physical function in elderly subjects; (2) to predict MRI-measured thigh muscle volume using anthropometric measurements and physical functional status in elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, nonrandomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine elderly subjects (33 men and 36 women) aged 65 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anthropometric data (including body height, body weight, waist size, and thigh circumference), physical activity and function (including grip strength, bilateral quadriceps muscle power, the up and go test, chair rise, and five meters walk time) and bioelectrical impedance analysis data (including total body fat mass, fat-free mass, and predictive muscle size) were measured. MRI-measured muscle volume of both thighs was used as the reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MRI-measured thigh volume was positively correlated with all anthropometric data, quadriceps muscle power and the up and go test as well as fat-free mass and predictive muscle mass, whereas it was negatively associated with age and walk time. In predicting thigh muscle volume, the variables of age, gender, body weight, and thigh circumference were significant predictors in the linear regression model: Muscle volume (cm3) =4226.3－42.5 × Age (year)－955.7 × gender (male=1, female=2) + 45.9 × body weight(kg) + 60.0 × thigh circumference (cm) (r2 = 0.745, P < 0.001; standard error of the estimate = 581.6 cm3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current work provides evidence of a strong relationship between thigh muscle volume and physical function in the elderly. We also developed a prediction equation model using anthropometric measurements. This model is a simple and noninvasive method for everyday clinical practice and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, College of medicine, Yun-Lin Branch.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T T F
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001825:Body Fluid Compartments; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D010809:Physical Fitness; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology