Power during functional tests in older adults: reliability, reference values and relationship to other sarcopenia-related outcomes KU Leuven
Aging is associated with declines in lower-limb muscle strength and power. Muscle power (i.e., force x velocity) starts to decline earlier in life and at a faster rate compared to muscle mass and strength. Low values of muscle power in old age have been associated with mobility limitations and mortality, stressing the importance to include muscle power assessments to prevent these negative outcomes. Lower-limb power is typically measured with specialized and expensive exercise equipment that requires skilled lab personnel (e.g., pneumatic or isotonic resistance machines, force plate analysis, ...