The Association Between Nutritional Status and Muscle Strength of Shoulder, Hip, and Knee, and the Timed Up and Go Test in Older Adults

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> This study examined the relationship between nutritional status and muscle strength in the upper and lower large muscles, with a specific focus on shoulder, hip, and knee muscle strength in community-dwelling older adults. It also investigated the relationship between nutritional status and functional performance as measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. <b>Methods:</b> A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study involving 2045 older adults (aged 60 years or older) from 15 randomly selected primary health care centers in Riyadh was conducted between January 2015 and April 2017. After excluding participants with specific medical conditions, 1741 individuals were included in the analysis. Nutritional status was assessed using the Arabic version of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Handgrip strength (HGS) and large muscle strength (shoulder, hip, knee) were measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer and the Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester, respectively. The TUG test was also assessed to evaluate physical performance. <b>Results:</b> The study revealed that well-nourished older adults had significantly greater upper and lower muscle strength than those who were malnourished or at risk (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), with males generally exhibiting stronger muscle strength than females. Furthermore, in both genders, older adults showed significant positive correlations between MNA scores and upper and lower muscle strength. Additionally, longer times on the TUG test indicated a higher risk of malnutrition (OR: 1.135, CI: 1.087-1.186; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> this study breaks new ground by being the first to explore the relationship between nutritional status and the muscular strength in the shoulder and hip regions. Findings indicate that muscle strength and physical performance were associated with malnutrition.