Abstract
Background and Clinical Significance: Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss and fat infiltration, poses a significant health burden for aging populations. Quantitative Color 2D and 3D radiodensitometry provides a powerful tool to monitor muscle quality and quantity through CT imaging. This study assessed the impact of a ten-year-long home-bed gym exercise intervention on muscle quality in an elderly subject using CT-derived radiodensitometric analysis. The study involved two comparative analyses: Study A, which compared knee-to-ankle CT scans of the subject between 2013 and 2023; and Study B, which compared the subject's 2023 thigh CT scan with a cohort of 2500 elderly Icelandic individuals from the AGES-Reykjavik study. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old male began a home-based Full-Body In-Bed Gym exercise program in 2013. Quantitative muscle volume and radiodensity measurements were performed using CT at baseline and after ten years. RESULTS: Study A shows significant improvements in muscle volume observed in the knee-to-ankle region, while a slower decline in radiodensity was noted, indicating substantial preservation of muscle quality despite the expected decay of ten-year aging. For instance, muscle volume increased by 15% in the left Soleus muscle and by 6% in the right Soleus muscle, while the average radiodensity decreased by 12-17 HU. The subject's thigh muscle quality at 80-years-old is above the AGES-Reykjavik's cohort average, with reduced fat infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term home Full-Body In-Bed Gym, a low-impact exercise, can mitigate aging sarcopenia, as evidenced by improved tissue radiodensity and muscle mass substantial preservation. This suggests potential applications in personalized healthcare strategies to enhance muscle preservation among aging populations.