Validity and feasibility of a seated push-up test to indicate skeletal muscle mass in well-functioning older adults

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is a major component of the human body (> 30% of the body-weight) and plays crucial role in many bodily functions. However, SMM assessments require a complex and costly machine, which delays the ability to detect abnormalities related to SMM decline and, subsequently, reduces the effectiveness of the clinical management of older adults.

Purpose

This study aimed to: 1) assess the correlation between upper limb loading during a seated push-up test (ULL-SPUT) and SMM (concurrent validity); 2) compare the SMM of participants who passed and failed a seated push-up test (SPUT; discriminant validity); and 3) explore the ability of a failed SPUT to identify older individuals with low SMM.

Methods

Participants (n = 40, age approximately 73 years) were cross-sectionally assessed for their SMM using a portable bioelectrical impedance analysis, and SPUTs were evaluated using digital push-up loading devices that were the size of clinical push-up boards, in three starting positions: 1) high; 2) ring, and 3) long sitting positions.

Results

The ULL-SPUT, especially in a ring sitting position, was significantly correlated to SMM (r_s = 0.457–0.608, p < .005). The SMM and ULL-SPUT were significantly different between participants who passed and failed the SPUT (p < .05). Failure to complete the SPUT – that is, being unable to lift the body up from the floor during the test – showed an excellent ability to indicate participants with an SMM of < 28% of their body-weight (sensitivity > 83%, specificity > 82%, area under the curve = 0.93).

Conclusions

The inability to lift the body up from the floor during sitting using the upper limbs can be used as a screening tool to indicate those with low SMM. Such a simple screening measure may enhance the distribution of healthcare services across various community- and home-based settings, particularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when hospital services are limited for many individuals, including older adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Community-based rehabilitation
• lean mass
• body composition
• clinical measure
• aging

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank SECA (Equip Healthcare) for the BIA used in this study and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima, for the digital push-up devices used for ULL-SPUT measurement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research and Graduate Studies, Khon Kaen University [RP64/016].