The number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Japan is increasing. Progression of DM leads to the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which causes foot sensory disturbances. This study examined the effect of DM on plantar tactile point pressure sensitivity (TPPS) and identified the site with the highest threshold of plantar TPPS. The subjects were 42 DM patients (aged 71.7±8.2 years) and 122 local elderly residents (aged 72.6±4.8 years). TPPS of eight sites, including the right and left halluces, hallux and fifth toe metatarsal heads, and heels was measured using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. The measurement was performed three times at each site. The results were adopted when all repeated measurements were valid. The Friedman test was used for comparison among the four sites within the same group. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of sites between groups. A significance level of 5% was adopted. The ages of the DM patients were not significantly different, but the patients had significantly higher TPPS threshold for halluces, and hallux and fifth toe metatarsal heads, compared to the local elderly residents. The TPPS threshold was highest in the heels in both the DM patients and local elderly residents. The threshold of plantar TPPS increases in DM. It is important to evaluate both the forefoot and the heels.

Background: Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the usefulness of calf muscle circumference measurement in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 63 older adults (40 male and 23 female; mean age, 79.7±6.5 years) using day-care rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was defined according to the guidelines of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). The association between sarcopenia and calf muscle circumference was determined using multiple regression analysis, and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference was determined using the kappa coefficient. Results: Overall, 36.5% (30.4% female and 40.0% male) of the participants had sarcopenia. Calf muscle circumference was independently associated with sarcopenia. The best cutoff points for calf muscle circumference to identify older adults at risk of low skeletal muscle mass were 28.7 cm and 31.1 cm for female and male participants, respectively. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient between sarcopenia diagnosed using calf muscle circumference and that diagnosed using the AWGS 2019 criteria was 0.80. Conclusions Calf muscle circumference is independently and significantly associated with sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care. Calf muscle circumference is a surrogate for skeletal muscle mass and thus may be used to diagnose sarcopenia.

Background: Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the usefulness of calf muscle circumference measurement in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 63 older adults (40 male and 23 female; mean age, 79.7±6.5 years) using day-care rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was defined according to the guidelines of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). The association between sarcopenia and calf muscle circumference was determined using multiple regression analysis, and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference was determined using the kappa coefficient. Results: Overall, 36.5% (30.4% female and 40.0% male) of the participants had sarcopenia. Calf muscle circumference was independently associated with sarcopenia. The best cutoff points for calf muscle circumference to identify older adults at risk of low skeletal muscle mass were 28.7 cm and 31.1 cm for female and male participants, respectively. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient between sarcopenia diagnosed using calf muscle circumference and that diagnosed using the AWGS 2019 criteria was 0.80. Conclusions Calf muscle circumference is independently and significantly associated with sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care. Calf muscle circumference is a surrogate for skeletal muscle mass and thus may be used to diagnose sarcopenia.

Background: Calf muscle circumference is a potential alternative for measuring skeletal muscle mass. However, the association between calf muscle circumference and sarcopenia and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference have not been well reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the usefulness of calf muscle circumference measurement in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 63 older adults (40 male and 23 female; mean age, 79.7±6.5 years) using day-care rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was defined according to the guidelines of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). The association between sarcopenia and calf muscle circumference was determined using multiple regression analysis, and the reliability of sarcopenia diagnosis based on calf muscle circumference was determined using the kappa coefficient. Results: Overall, 36.5% (30.4% female and 40.0% male) of the participants had sarcopenia. Calf muscle circumference was independently associated with sarcopenia. The best cutoff points for calf muscle circumference to identify older adults at risk of low skeletal muscle mass were 28.7 cm and 31.1 cm for female and male participants, respectively. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient between sarcopenia diagnosed using calf muscle circumference and that diagnosed using the AWGS 2019 criteria was 0.80. Conclusions Calf muscle circumference is independently and significantly associated with sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care. Calf muscle circumference is a surrogate for skeletal muscle mass and thus may be used to diagnose sarcopenia.