The effect of sarcopenia on balance and fall in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis

Objective: Osteoporosis, osteopenia and sarcopenia are diseases that negatively affect quality of life and share common etiologies. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of sarcopenia on balance parameters and the risk of falling in postmenopausal osteopenic and osteoporotic women. Materials and methods: Our study was designed as a cross-sectional study and included 150 postmenopausal osteopenic and osteoporotic patients aged 55-75 years, who applied to the outpatient clinics of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Demographic data (age, gender, educational status, marital status, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol use, osteoporosis follow-up time, menopause duration and medications) of the patients participating in the study were recorded. Bone mineral density of patients by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle strength by Jamar hand dynamometry and lower extremity isokinetic test, muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis, physical performance by short physical performance test, the time up go test, balance Berg balance scale, Tinetti balance and walking test, functional reach test and fall risk by FROP-COM questionnaire were evaluated. Results: 150 patients included in the study were evaluated for osteoporosis, osteopenia and sarcopenia. When the data of patients with osteosarcopenia and patients with isolated osteoporosis and isolated osteopenia were compared, 6-minute walking distance, Tinetti balance-gait-total scores, Berg balance test, Short Physical Performance Test, flexion and extension maximum torque values at 60 degrees angular speed in the isokinetic test, in the osteosarcopenia group, maximum extension torque values at 180 degrees angular velocity were found to be significantly lower. The results of the Fropcom questionnaire and the "time up to go" test were found to be significantly higher in the osteosarcopenia group. Conclusion: Falling causes an increase in fracture risk, mortality and morbidity, and a decrease in quality of life in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients. Patients with osteoporosis, osteopenia and sarcopenia were evaluated for physical performance, muscle strength, balance and risk of falling. It was determined that physical performance and muscle strength were low in the sarcopenia group, and the risk of loss of balance and falling was increased due to these.