What does this research mean for the field?

There is no significant relationship between physical activity and possible sarcopenia in older adults in Indonesia. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to determine if there is a relationship between physical activity levels and possible sarcopenia among older adults.

March 4, 2026Cureus0 citationsOpen Access

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Sarcopenia in the Elderly

FHFajri Fadhillah HidayatUniversitas Trisakti EKErica KholinneUniversitas Trisakti

Key Points

The study aims to determine if there is a relationship between physical activity levels and possible sarcopenia among older adults.
Analytical observational design using a cross-sectional approach.
67 older adults aged 65 and above residing in a social institution were enrolled.
Physical activity levels assessed using IPAQ-SF and categorized as light, moderate, or high.
Possible sarcopenia evaluated using AWGS criteria based on calf circumference and handgrip strength.
Data analyzed with univariate and bivariate analyses, including Fisher’s Exact test.
71.6% of participants had low levels of physical activity.
59.7% were categorized as having possible sarcopenia.
No significant association was found between physical activity level and possible sarcopenia (p = 0.421).
Effect size analysis suggested higher odds of possible sarcopenia in those with low physical activity (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 0.76-5.46), though not significant.

Abstract

Background Sarcopenia is a significant health problem in older adults, characterized by a progressive decline in muscle mass and muscle strength, and is associated with an increased risk of falls, disability, and reduced quality of life. Physical activity is known to play an important role in maintaining muscle function; however, evidence regarding the relationship between physical activity level and sarcopenia among older adults remains inconsistent, particularly in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the relationship between physical activity and possible sarcopenia in older adults. Methods This study used an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 67 older adults aged ≥65 years residing in a social institution in West Jakarta who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and classified into light, moderate, and high activity levels. Possible sarcopenia was evaluated according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, using calf circumference measurement and handgrip strength assessment. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses. The association between physical activity and possible sarcopenia was tested using Fisher’s Exact test with a significance level of 0.05. Results Most participants had a low level of physical activity (71.6%) and were categorized as having possible sarcopenia (59.7%). Bivariate analysis showed no statistically significant association between physical activity level and possible sarcopenia among older adults (p = 0.421). However, effect size analysis indicated that participants with low physical activity had higher odds of possible sarcopenia compared with those with higher activity levels (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 0.76-5.46), although this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion There was no significant relationship between physical activity and possible sarcopenia in this study. These findings suggest that other factors, such as nutritional status, comorbidities, and individual characteristics, may contribute to the development of possible sarcopenia. Further studies with longitudinal designs and more comprehensive assessment methods are needed to clarify this relationship.

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