CORRELATION BETWEEN QUADRICEPS CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA, FAT INFILTRATION, AND TORQUE IN OLDER WOMEN

Aging is related to changes in the neuromuscular system that can lead to decrease muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) and increase the fat infiltration. The aim of this study was to measure the quadriceps cross sectional area (CSA), the fat infiltration and to verify their correlation with knee extensor torque. Cross-sectional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Federal University of Paraná (36003814.2.0000.0102), included 16 older women (70 ± 4 years-old; BMI: 27 ± 4 Kg/m 2 ). The CSA was measured by Magnetic Resonance Image and the Image Pro plus software was used to calculate the quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration (FI) in cm 2 . The concentric and eccentric knee extensors peak of torque were evaluated by an isokinetic dynamometer (System4, Biodex®), range of motion 60° (start at 90° and stop at 30°), three repetitions each set performed at 60 ο /s. The data were analyzed as mean, standard deviation. To verify the association between variables the S p earman correlation test was used (p