Sarcopenia in ElderlyNCT07414888
Muscle Strength Asymmetry In Sarkopenic And Non-sarcopenic Older Adults
An observational study of Sarcopenia in Elderly, run by Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The purpose of this observational study is to examine whether differences in muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body are associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The study will include adults aged 65 years and older with and without sarcopenia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 12 Feb 2026to 12 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Study population: The study population will include older adults aged 65 years and older who are evaluated in a hospital or outpatient clinic setting. Participants will be grouped as sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic according to established diagnostic criteria and will undergo standardized assessments of muscle strength, body composition, and physical performance.
Who may be able to join
- Age 65 years or older
- Ability to walk independently or with minimal assistance
- Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
- Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent
- Availability of muscle strength measurements (handgrip, biceps, and quadriceps)
Who cannot join
- Lack of cooperation, moderate to severe dementia (e.g., MMSE <24) or conditions impeding cooperation.
- Those with severe cardiovascular disease
- Those with pacemakers
- Surgical/fracture/acute pain in the measured extremities within the last 6 months.
- Neurological and muscular disease affecting the upper or lower extremity (acute stroke, severe peripheral neuropathy, etc.)
- Active systemic disease attack significantly affecting the measurement.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Bahçelievler, 34180
tugba aydın, associate professor, +90 532c462 2162, drtugbaaydin@gmail.com
nurdan paker, Professor Doctor, +90 532 691 7591, nurdanpaker@hotmail.com
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Dominant and Non-Dominant Side Muscle Strength Asymmetry in Sarcopenic and Non-Sarcopenic Older Adults
The purpose of this observational study is to examine whether differences in muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body are associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The study will include adults aged 65 years and older with and without sarcopenia. Muscle strength will be measured on both sides of the body using handgrip strength as well as strength measurements of the biceps (upper arm muscle) and quadriceps (thigh muscle). The difference in strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides will be calculated and compared between participants with sarcopenia and those without sarcopenia.
The main question it aims to answers are:
- Do older adults with sarcopenia have larger differences in muscle strength between the two sides of the body compared with those without sarcopenia?
- Can differences in arm and leg muscle strength help identify older adults who may be at higher risk of sarcopenia?
Read the detailed description
Sarcopenia is a clinical condition in elderly individuals where muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance decrease, negatively impacting their quality of life. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) has developed a simple clinical definition and diagnostic criteria for age-related sarcopenia. Measurements of walking speed, grip strength, and muscle mass are taken to detect sarcopenia. The severity of the disease is It is measured by physical performance. Unilateral measurements in hand grip strength measurement used in diagnosis may lead to the neglect of muscle symmetry. Hand grip strength asymmetry (difference between dominant and non-dominant hands) has recently been evaluated as a sarcopenia risk indicator.A significant association has been demonstrated between handgrip strength asymmetry (>10% difference between limbs) and sarcopenia. Individuals with asymmetry were found to have a 2.67-fold higher risk of sarcopenia, indicating that this approach also has diagnostic utility. In addition, it has been shown that the dominant side has greater strength and muscle mass in the upper extremities; however, this difference decreases with age. A significant relationship has been identified between handgrip strength asymmetry and muscle mass, with asymmetric individuals being more likely to have low muscle mass.. In the lower extremities, quadriceps strength was found to have a clearer relationship with health outcomes. In the ISCOPE study, although the relationship between quadriceps strength and handgrip strength was limited, the combination of the two was found to be appropriate in defining the fragile group. In light of these studies, it can be suggested that dominant-non-dominant muscle strength asymmetry (upper and lower extremities) is greater in sarcopenic individuals and that this asymmetry parameter may have a guiding value in diagnosis. In the current literature, there is no study that evaluates asymmetries between biceps, quadriceps, and handgrip strength together and compares their predictive power specific to sarcopenia. This study aims to compare the differences in dominant-non-dominant biceps, quadriceps, and handgrip strength in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly individuals, and to examine its potential value as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- Keywords
- sarcopenia, Muscle Strength Asymmetry, Handgrip, Quadriceps, Biceps, Dominant, Non dominant
- Medical subject headings
- Sarcopenia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopenic Older Adults | Participants aged 65 years and older who meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia according to established guidelines. | |
| Non-Sarcopenic Older Adults | Participants aged 65 years and older who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Biceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Difference in biceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using Lafayette manual muscle tester.
Measured: Baseline
Quadriceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Difference in quadriceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using lafayette manual muscle tester.
Measured: Baseline
Handgrip Strength (Dominant and Non-Dominant)
Handgrip strength measured separately for the dominant and non-dominant hands using a hand dynamometer.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (5)
Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living
Functional independence in activities of daily living was assessed using the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional independence and lower scores indicating greater dependency.
Measured: Baseline
Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC)
Ambulation ability was evaluated using the Functional Ambulation Classification. The FAC is a 6-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 5, where higher scores indicate greater walking independence (0 = non-functional ambulation; 5 = independent ambulation on all surfaces).
Measured: Baseline
Body Composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Body composition, including muscle mass, assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita device).
Measured: Baseline
Gait Speed (3 m and 4 m Walk Tests)
Gait speed measured over 3-meter and 4-meter walking tests under standardized conditions.
Measured: Baseline
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Lower extremity physical performance assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Feb 2026
- Study start12 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion12 Mar 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sarcopenia in ElderlyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, uğur can önder, Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
- Investigators
- tugba aydın, Associate Professor, Study director, Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07414888
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-65
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be publicly shared due to ethical and privacy considerations. Aggregate results will be reported.
Publications
Chan OY, van Houwelingen AH, Gussekloo J, Blom JW, den Elzen WP. Comparison of quadriceps strength and handgrip strength in their association with health outcomes in older adults in primary care. Age (Dordr). 2014;36(5):9714. doi: 10.1007/s11357-014-9714-4. Epub 2014 Oct 4.
PubMed 25280549Huang S, Chen X, Ding H, Dong B. The relationship between low and asymmetric handgrip strength and low muscle mass: results of a cross-sectional study on health and aging trends in western China. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Aug 2;24(1):650. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05199-4.
PubMed 39095770Pratt J, Pessanha L, Narici M, Boreham C, De Vito G. Handgrip strength asymmetry as a new biomarker for sarcopenia and individual sarcopenia signatures. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Nov;35(11):2563-2571. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02539-z. Epub 2023 Sep 2.
PubMed 37658983Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, Martin FC, Michel JP, Rolland Y, Schneider SM, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Zamboni M; European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010 Jul;39(4):412-23. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afq034. Epub 2010 Apr 13.
PubMed 20392703
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Dominant and Non-Dominant Side Muscle Strength Asymmetry in Sarcopenic and Non-Sarcopenic Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07414888
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025-65
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- Keywords
- sarcopenia, Muscle Strength Asymmetry, Handgrip, Quadriceps, Biceps, Dominant, Non dominant
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research HospitalOther government
- Study start
- 12 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 12 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this observational study is to examine whether differences in muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body are associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The study will include adults aged 65 years and older with and without sarcopenia. Muscle strength will be measured on both sides of the body using handgrip strength as well as strength measurements of the biceps (upper arm muscle) and quadriceps (thigh muscle). The difference in strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides will be calculated and compared between participants with sarcopenia and those without sarcopenia.
The main question it aims to answers are:
- Do older adults with sarcopenia have larger differences in muscle strength between the two sides of the body compared with those without sarcopenia?
- Can differences in arm and leg muscle strength help identify older adults who may be at higher risk of sarcopenia?
Detailed description
Sarcopenia is a clinical condition in elderly individuals where muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance decrease, negatively impacting their quality of life. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) has developed a simple clinical definition and diagnostic criteria for age-related sarcopenia. Measurements of walking speed, grip strength, and muscle mass are taken to detect sarcopenia. The severity of the disease is It is measured by physical performance. Unilateral measurements in hand grip strength measurement used in diagnosis may lead to the neglect of muscle symmetry. Hand grip strength asymmetry (difference between dominant and non-dominant hands) has recently been evaluated as a sarcopenia risk indicator.A significant association has been demonstrated between handgrip strength asymmetry (>10% difference between limbs) and sarcopenia. Individuals with asymmetry were found to have a 2.67-fold higher risk of sarcopenia, indicating that this approach also has diagnostic utility. In addition, it has been shown that the dominant side has greater strength and muscle mass in the upper extremities; however, this difference decreases with age. A significant relationship has been identified between handgrip strength asymmetry and muscle mass, with asymmetric individuals being more likely to have low muscle mass.. In the lower extremities, quadriceps strength was found to have a clearer relationship with health outcomes. In the ISCOPE study, although the relationship between quadriceps strength and handgrip strength was limited, the combination of the two was found to be appropriate in defining the fragile group. In light of these studies, it can be suggested that dominant-non-dominant muscle strength asymmetry (upper and lower extremities) is greater in sarcopenic individuals and that this asymmetry parameter may have a guiding value in diagnosis. In the current literature, there is no study that evaluates asymmetries between biceps, quadriceps, and handgrip strength together and compares their predictive power specific to sarcopenia. This study aims to compare the differences in dominant-non-dominant biceps, quadriceps, and handgrip strength in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly individuals, and to examine its potential value as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopenic Older Adults | – | –Participants aged 65 years and older who meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia according to established guidelines. |
| Non-Sarcopenic Older Adults | – | –Participants aged 65 years and older who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
- Study population
- The study population will include older adults aged 65 years and older who are evaluated in a hospital or outpatient clinic setting. Participants will be grouped as sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic according to established diagnostic criteria and will undergo standardized assessments of muscle strength, body composition, and physical performance.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 65 years or older
- Ability to walk independently or with minimal assistance
- Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
- Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent
- Availability of muscle strength measurements (handgrip, biceps, and quadriceps)
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Lack of cooperation, moderate to severe dementia (e.g., MMSE <24) or conditions impeding cooperation.
- Those with severe cardiovascular disease
- Those with pacemakers
- Surgical/fracture/acute pain in the measured extremities within the last 6 months.
- Neurological and muscular disease affecting the upper or lower extremity (acute stroke, severe peripheral neuropathy, etc.)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Biceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Time frame: Baseline
Difference in biceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using Lafayette manual muscle tester.
Quadriceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry
Time frame: Baseline
Difference in quadriceps muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant sides measured using lafayette manual muscle tester.
Handgrip Strength (Dominant and Non-Dominant)
Time frame: Baseline
Handgrip strength measured separately for the dominant and non-dominant hands using a hand dynamometer.
5 secondary outcomes
Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living
Time frame: Baseline
Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC)
Time frame: Baseline
Body Composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Time frame: Baseline
Gait Speed (3 m and 4 m Walk Tests)
Time frame: Baseline
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Mar 2026.
- Background: PubMed 25280549Chan OY, van Houwelingen AH, Gussekloo J, Blom JW, den Elzen WP. Comparison of quadriceps strength and handgrip strength in their association with health outcomes in older adults in primary care. Age (Dordr). 2014;36(5):9714. doi: 10.1007/s11357-014-9714-4. Epub 2014 Oct 4.
- Background: PubMed 39095770Huang S, Chen X, Ding H, Dong B. The relationship between low and asymmetric handgrip strength and low muscle mass: results of a cross-sectional study on health and aging trends in western China. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Aug 2;24(1):650. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05199-4.
- Background: PubMed 37658983Pratt J, Pessanha L, Narici M, Boreham C, De Vito G. Handgrip strength asymmetry as a new biomarker for sarcopenia and individual sarcopenia signatures. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Nov;35(11):2563-2571. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02539-z. Epub 2023 Sep 2.
- Background: PubMed 20392703Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, Martin FC, Michel JP, Rolland Y, Schneider SM, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Zamboni M; European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010 Jul;39(4):412-23. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afq034. Epub 2010 Apr 13.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be publicly shared due to ethical and privacy considerations. Aggregate results will be reported.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
tugba aydın, Associate Professor study director
Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Sarcopenia in Elderly, run by Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact ugur c onder, Medical Resident (+90 553 618 9923, ugurcanonderr@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Biceps Muscle Strength Asymmetry (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07414888, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Mar 2026.