Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2023 December, 261(4)

Association between Physical Activity in Rural Life and Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yoichi Sato,¹ Keiko Kabasawa,² Yumi Ito,² Shoichiro Tsugane,³ Kazutoshi Nakamura,⁴ Junta Tanaka^2,5 and Ichiei Narita⁶

¹Department of Rehabilitation, Uonuma Kikan Hospital, Minamiuonuma, Niigata, Japan
²Department of Health Promotion Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
³International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan
⁴Division of Preventive Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
⁵Department of General Internal Medicine, Uonuma Kikan Hospital, Minamiuonuma, Niigata, Japan
⁶Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Kidney Research Center, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Niigata, Japan

Physical activity is crucial to prevent sarcopenia, but there is scant data on the link between sarcopenia and physical activity in rural communities. Therefore, this study investigated associations of farming activity and snow removal with sarcopenia in a middle-aged and older population in rural Japan. This cross-sectional study enrolled 3,056 residents aged ≥ 40 years (49.2% men; mean age, 64.2 years) in Yuzawa, Japan. Information on farming activity and snow removal were collected via questionnaire from May through November and from December through April, respectively. Sarcopenia was assessed by the SARC-F (strength, ambulation, rising from a chair, stair climbing, and history of falling) score. Associations of farming activity and snow removal with sarcopenia were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders. Participants who engaged in farming activity, snow removal, and both accounted for 3.8%, 40.5%, and 29.4% of the total, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals (CI)] of sarcopenia for farming activity and snow removal were 0.80 (0.63-1.03) and 0.68 (0.53-0.87), respectively. Compared with participants who did not engage in farming activity or snow removal, participants who engaged in both had a significantly lower adjusted odds ratio of sarcopenia [0.63 (95% CI 0.47-0.86)]. Participants who engaged in snow removal and those who engaged in both farming activity and snow removal showed inverse associations with sarcopenia. Our findings further support the importance of physical activity in preventing or mitigating sarcopenia in rural communities.

Key words —— agriculture; exercise; musculoskeletal diseases; rural population; seasons

Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2023 December, 261(4), 317-323.

Correspondence: Keiko Kabasawa, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Department of Health Promotion Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.

e-mail: keikoyk@med.niigata-u.ac.jp