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P. Ibacache1, E. Martínez-Rosales2, E. García-Artero2, M. Cano-Cappellacci3
1Universidad Andres Bello, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Santiago, Chile, 2Universidad de Almería, Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad de Almería. SPORT Research Group (CTS 1024), CERNEP Research Center, Almería, Spain, 3Universidad de Chile, Physical Therapy, Santiago, Chile
Background: Obesity is a growing worldwide public health problem affecting over 670 million adults worldwide, with physical inactivity being one of the most important determinants of its development. This disease is associated with numerous comorbidities and deleterious effects on physical performance. Although muscle quality (MQ) has been determined by the degree to which skeletal muscle tissue performs its various functions, as the generation of muscle strength is its most prominent feature, it has been usually expressed as muscle strength or muscle power per unit of muscle mass ratio.
Adults with obesity have a greater muscle mass and absolute muscle strength than people with normal weight, however they are less effective in producing strength with respect to their muscle mass, that is, they have a lower muscle quality.
Muscle quality has recently been highlighted as one of the most important biomarkers for improving physical performance not only in elderly, but also in young adults. However, there is no evidence about the relationship between levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with muscle quality in adults awaiting a bariatric surgery.
Adults with obesity have a greater muscle mass and absolute muscle strength than people with normal weight, however they are less effective in producing strength with respect to their muscle mass, that is, they have a lower muscle quality.
Muscle quality has recently been highlighted as one of the most important biomarkers for improving physical performance not only in elderly, but also in young adults. However, there is no evidence about the relationship between levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with muscle quality in adults awaiting a bariatric surgery.
Purpose: To determine the relationship of the MQ with the PA and SB in people with obesity waiting to undergo a bariatric surgery.
Methods: Sixty-four patients underwent baseline clinical assessments as part of the EFIBAR randomized controlled trial before the surgery (ClinicalTrials: NCT03497546). This cross-sectional study included adults awaiting bariatric surgery (44 women; mean age: 41.7 (10.2) yo, mean BMI: 46.8 (6.41) kg/m2). Muscle quality was expressed through specific muscle power and specific muscle strength. Specific muscle power was calculated as the ratio of sit to stand (STS) power [W] (based on the 30-s chair stand test using the formula proposed by Alcaraz) and skeletal muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis) [kg]. Specific muscle strength was calculated as the ratio between handgrip strength [kg] and skeletal muscle mass [kg]. PA and SB were measured using a 3-axis accelerometer (GT3X+). Subsequently, the data were analyzed with Actilife 6 software, using the Freedson cut-off points for adults.
Spearman correlation test was used to assess the correlations. Data was analyzed using Jamovi software.
Spearman correlation test was used to assess the correlations. Data was analyzed using Jamovi software.
Results: The fat percentage of the sample was 50.5 (5.3), STS power was 293 (107)W, handgrip strength 35.4 (9.7)kg and the participants walked 5514 (2413) steps/day. The ratio handgrip strength/muscle mass was associated with BMI (Rho=-0.528, p<0.001) and fat mass (Rho=-0.490, p<0.001). Handgrip strength was associated with muscle mass (Rho=0.647, p<0.001), fat percentage (Rho=-0.603, p<0.001) and STS power (Rho=-0.525, p<0.001). The steps/day were associated with moderate-vigorous PA (Rho=0.826, p<0.001), light PA (Rho=0.662, p<0.001) and fat mass (Rho=-0.274, p=0.028). STS power was associated with muscle mass (Rho=0.758, p<0.001). Vigorous PA had a weak association with the number of repetitions of STS (Rho=0.343, p<0.005) and with the ratio STS power/muscle mass (Rho=0.347, p=0.005).
Conclusions: The studied sample showed several associations among different ways to express MQ with body composition and PA.
Implications: The formula proposed by Alcaraz seems to be useful and unexpensive assessment to be applied in persons with obesity to reflect muscle strength and body composition.
Funding acknowledgements: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO); Plan Nacional de I +D+i calls RETOS 2016, Grant/Award Number: DEP2016-74926-R
Keywords:
Muscle quality
Obesity
Physical activity
Muscle quality
Obesity
Physical activity
Topics:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Musculoskeletal: peripheral
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Musculoskeletal: peripheral
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universidad de Almería
Committee: Torrecárdenas University Hospital
Ethics number: 76/2016
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
