Association between Sarcopenia, Kinesiophobia and Frailty in Older Adults

Sarcopenia is progressive loss of skeletalmuscle mass and muscle strength.It carries a higherrisk of physical impairment,lower quality of life, pain andmortality. Sarcopenia is leading to increased frailty andadverse health outcome. Frailty is commonly seenin 5% to 17% of older population.It is characterized by increased riskof falls, hospitalizations, mortality andvarious health domains vulnerability. Evidence suggests relationship betweenfrailty and sarcopenia is leading cause of reduced muscle function andincreased frailty and vice versa which accelerates functional deterioration inolder population. Kinesiophobia is an debilitating and irrational fear to carry out movementdue to pain or fear of injury2. Fear ofmovement can lead to reduced activity and muscle atrophy, thereby increasingthe risk of frailty and sarcopenia. Fear of movement decreases physicalactivity and function, which is necessary for older population to maintain healthy muscles. Due to increase in prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty in olderpopulation, there is limited evidence investigating the relation betweenfrailty, sarcopenia and kinesiophobia. Understanding the relation betweenfrailty, kinesiophobia and sarcopenia in older population is essential as it can lead to reducedmobility, physical function, increases the risk of fractureand adverse health outcome.