Your Muscles Matter – The Sarcopenia Study

Summary Sarcopenia is associated with age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that can lead to reduced mobility, falls, fractures, loss of independence, and can become life threatening if undiagnosed and untreated. Sarcopenia is now formally recognised as a disease, which will increase awareness, diagnosis, and interest in treatments.

Project Details

Early diagnosis is important as increasing evidence demonstrates therapeutic interventions, particularly resistance training, can improve health and quality of life outcomes for those with or at risk of sarcopenia.

This project is in collaboration with Uniting AgeWell and will involve clients enrolled in exercise programs at their Allied Health and Therapy Centres at Forest Hill, Oakleigh, Noble Park, and Hawthorn. Research participants will include clients who live at home or in residential care. Body composition, physical function and quality of life assessments will occur at study commencement, and at six months and twelve months following an exercise intervention to assess muscle mass, strength and functional capability to assess sarcopenia prevalence and risk.