Sarcopenia and Dynamic Balance in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study at Kedungwuni II

Abstrak

Background: Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle function and may coexist with impaired mobility and balance in older adults. However, the relationship between operationally identified sarcopenia and dynamic balance may vary according to population characteristics and measurement methods. 
Objective: This study examined the association between operational sarcopenia classification and dynamic balance among older adults attending Kedungwuni II Primary Health Center, Pekalongan Regency. 
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 32 adults aged ≥60 years recruited by total sampling in February 2026. Sarcopenia was classified operationally using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) and lower-limb anthropometric measurements because DXA and BIA were unavailable. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). Data were summarized descriptively and analyzed using Spearman rank correlation at α=0.05. 
Results: Thirty participants (93.8%) were classified as sarcopenic and 2 (6.3%) as non-sarcopenic. Seventeen participants (53.1%) had high fall risk and 15 (46.9%) had moderate fall risk according to the study's TUGT categorization. Mean TUGT was 30.38±5.14 seconds (range, 22 to 39 seconds). Spearman correlation showed a weak positive association (r=0.275, p=0.128; 95% CI, −0.08 to 0.57). Exploratory simple linear regression yielded a 95% CI of −4.079 to 11.279 for the sarcopenia coefficient and R²=0.030. 
Conclusion: No statistically significant association between the operational sarcopenia classification and dynamic balance was observed. The findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small and highly unbalanced groups and the nonstandard sarcopenia classification.