Instrumented Assessment of Physical Activity Is Associated With Muscle Function but Not With Muscle Mass in a General Population

Objectives: Self-reported physical activity has shown to affect muscle-related parameters. As self-report is likely biased, this study aimed to assess the association between instrumented assessment of physical activity (I-PA) and muscle-related parameters in a general population. Method: Included were 156 young-to-middle-aged and 80 older community-dwelling adults. Seven days of trunk accelerometry (DynaPort MoveMonitor, McRoberts B.V.) quantified daily physical activity (i.e., active/inactive duration, number and mean duration of active/inactive periods, and number of steps per day). Muscle-related parameters included muscle mass, handgrip strength, and gait speed. Results: I-PA was associated with handgrip strength in young-to-middle-aged adults and with gait speed in older adults. I-PA was not associated with muscle mass in either age group. Discussion: The association between I-PA and muscle-related parameters was age dependent. The lack of an association between I-PA and muscle mass indicates the relevance of muscle function rather than muscle mass.