Sarcopenia in daily practice: assessment and management

BMC Geriatrics

Table 1 Applicability of the existing tools for the assessment of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance in research and clinical settings

	Applicable in research settings	Applicable in specialist clinical settings	Applicable in primary care settings
Assessment of muscle mass
DXA	+++	+++	+
Anthropometric measurements	+	++	++
CT-scan	+++	++	+
MRI	+++	++	+
BIA	++	++	+
Assessment of muscle strength
Handgrip strength	+++	+++	+++
Lower limb muscle strength	+++	++	+
Repeated chair stands test	+	+	++
Assessment of physical performance
Gait speed	+++	+++	+++
Timed Up and Go test	++	+	+
Balance test	+	+	+
6-min walk test	++	+	+
400 m walk test	++	+	+
Stair climb test	++	+	+
SPPB test	+++	++	+

SPPB Short Physical Performance Battery
Nb. The group has chosen to attribute to each tool +++ (best recommended tool) or ++ (best alternative tool) or + (less recommended tool) based on the availability and the costs of the tool, the required time for the examination and the availability of robust cut-off points

ISSN: 1471-2318