Correlation of single leg static postural stability, skeletal muscle mass index, and fear of falling in patients with sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is an aging-related, progressive musculoskeletal disorder. This study aimed to compare the static postural stability, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and fear of falling between patients with and without sarcopenia. We hypothesized that compared with healthy older adults, patients with sarcopenia would have poor postural stability, lower SMI, and a higher fear of falling. A total of 40 participants (20 patients with sarcopenia and 20 healthy older adults) were enrolled in this study. Postural stability, SMI, and fear of falling were assessed using a pressure platform, bioimpedance analysis, and the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) scores, respectively. Compared with healthy older adults, patients with sarcopenia demonstrated lower single-leg static postural stability, lower SMI, and higher FES-I scores. Additionally, in the sarcopenia group, individuals with a high fear of falling (FES-I score > 26) showed significantly poorer single-leg static postural stability and lower SMI than those with a low fear of falling (FES-I score < 26). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the single-leg static postural stability index (overall and mediolateral stability) was negatively correlated with the SMI but not with FES-I scores. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating balance training and muscle-strengthening exercises into the management of patients with sarcopenia.