What Is Sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical function. It raises the risk of falls, fractures, and losing independence. Muscle mass declines gradually from midlife, and the loss speeds up in older age.
This tool follows the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2, Cruz-Jentoft et al. 2019), which is widely used in the U.S. and internationally. Grip strength under 27 kg for men or 16 kg for women indicates probable sarcopenia. Diagnosis is confirmed when low muscle mass is also measured (DXA or bioimpedance), and a gait speed of 0.8 m/s or less then marks it as severe.
For Asian adults, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) uses higher grip cut-offs (28 kg men, 18 kg women) and a gait speed under 1.0 m/s. This result is a screening aid, not a diagnosis; if you fall below a cut-off, talk to your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a hand dynamometer, try each hand two or three times, and take the highest value. For gait speed, time a 4-meter walk at your usual pace and divide 4 by the seconds (for example, 4 seconds = 1.0 m/s).
Not on its own. Under EWGSOP2, low grip strength means probable sarcopenia; a muscle mass measurement is needed to confirm it.
Resistance training and enough protein are the core strategies. The PROT-AGE group (2013) recommends 1.0 to 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day for older adults; check with your doctor first if you have kidney disease.