Abstract :
Sarcopenia is characterized by a lower skeletal muscle quantity, higher fat accumulation in the muscle,
lower muscle strength, and lower physical performance. The most commonly used, low cost and accessible
methods to assess skeletal muscle mass include dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), anthropometry and
bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) and
creatinine excretion are the most specific golden standards for assessing muscle mass or cross sectional muscle
area. Other available measures include peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT), ultrasound and
neutron activation. Skeletal muscle strength is another important component for the assessment of sarcopenia and
muscle quality. Several methods are available for the measurement of muscle strength which include simple
dynamometers to measure isometric strength and the most complex isokinetic strength measures of power and
torque. Standardized physical performance measures complement the measures of muscle mass for the
assessment of sarcopenia. A clinical definition of sarcopenia ought to use methods of assessment that are valid,
reliable, specific to skeletal muscle, predictive of future health events, non-invasive, practical, low cost and
widely accessible
