Determining muscle mass is a crucial aspect of understanding body composition. It involves calculating the amount of skeletal muscle in the body, excluding fat, bone, and other tissues.
Calculating muscle mass provides valuable insights into overall health and fitness levels. For instance, it helps monitor muscle growth and loss, assess the effectiveness of exercise programs, and evaluate the risk of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). Historically, muscle mass was estimated using complex methods like underwater weighing and bioelectrical impedance analysis. However, advancements in technology have led to more accessible and accurate measurement techniques.