Muscle Strength Asymmetry In Sarkopenic And Non-sarcopenic Older Adults

NCT07414888 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-65
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this observational study is to examine whether differences in muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body are associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The study will include adults aged 65 years and older with and without sarcopenia. Muscle strength will be measured on both sides of the body using handgrip strength as well as strength measurements of the biceps (upper arm muscle) and quadriceps (thigh muscle). The difference in strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides will be calculated and compared between participants with sarcopenia and those without sarcopenia. The main question it aims to answers are:

• Do older adults with sarcopenia have larger differences in muscle strength between the two sides of the body compared with those without sarcopenia?
• Can differences in arm and leg muscle strength help identify older adults who may be at higher risk of sarcopenia?

Conditions

Sarcopenia in Elderly

Keywords

sarcopenia; Muscle Strength Asymmetry; Handgrip; Quadriceps; Biceps; Dominant; Non dominant

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Biceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry

  Difference in biceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using Lafayette manual muscle tester.

  Baseline

• Quadriceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry

  Difference in quadriceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using lafayette manual muscle tester.

  Baseline

• Handgrip Strength (Dominant and Non-Dominant)

  Handgrip strength measured separately for the dominant and non-dominant hands using a hand dynamometer.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living

  Baseline

• Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC)

  Baseline

• Body Composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

  Baseline

• Gait Speed (3 m and 4 m Walk Tests)

  Baseline

• Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Sarcopenic Older Adults

Participants aged 65 years and older who meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia according to established guidelines.

Non-Sarcopenic Older Adults

Participants aged 65 years and older who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include older adults aged 65 years and older who are evaluated in a hospital or outpatient clinic setting. Participants will be grouped as sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic according to established diagnostic criteria and will undergo standardized assessments of muscle strength, body composition, and physical performance.

You may qualify if:

• Age 65 years or older
• Ability to walk independently or with minimal assistance
• Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
• Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent
• Availability of muscle strength measurements (handgrip, biceps, and quadriceps)

You may not qualify if:

• Lack of cooperation, moderate to severe dementia (e.g., MMSE \<24) or conditions impeding cooperation.
• Those with severe cardiovascular disease
• Those with pacemakers
• Surgical/fracture/acute pain in the measured extremities within the last 6 months.
• Neurological and muscular disease affecting the upper or lower extremity (acute stroke, severe peripheral neuropathy, etc.)
• Active systemic disease attack significantly affecting the measurement.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Bahçelievler, 34180, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Chan OY, van Houwelingen AH, Gussekloo J, Blom JW, den Elzen WP. Comparison of quadriceps strength and handgrip strength in their association with health outcomes in older adults in primary care. Age (Dordr). 2014;36(5):9714. doi: 10.1007/s11357-014-9714-4. Epub 2014 Oct 4.

  PMID: 25280549 BACKGROUND

• Huang S, Chen X, Ding H, Dong B. The relationship between low and asymmetric handgrip strength and low muscle mass: results of a cross-sectional study on health and aging trends in western China. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Aug 2;24(1):650. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05199-4.

  PMID: 39095770 BACKGROUND

• Pratt J, Pessanha L, Narici M, Boreham C, De Vito G. Handgrip strength asymmetry as a new biomarker for sarcopenia and individual sarcopenia signatures. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Nov;35(11):2563-2571. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02539-z. Epub 2023 Sep 2.

  PMID: 37658983 BACKGROUND

• Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, Martin FC, Michel JP, Rolland Y, Schneider SM, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Zamboni M; European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010 Jul;39(4):412-23. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afq034. Epub 2010 Apr 13.

  PMID: 20392703 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• tugba aydın, Associate Professor

  Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

ugur c onder, Medical Resident

CONTACT

+90 553 618 9923; ugurcanonderr@gmail.com

Tugba aydın, Associate Professor

CONTACT

+90 532 462 2162; drtygbaaydin@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Resident Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Posted: February 17, 2026
• Study Start: February 12, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 12, 2026
• Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)