Comparative effectiveness study of low versus high-intensity aerobic training with resistance training in community-dwelling older men with post-COVID 19 sarcopenia: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To find and compare the clinical and psychological effects of low and high-intensity aerobic training combined with resistance training in community-dwelling older men with post-COVID-19 sarcopenia symptoms. Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: University physiotherapy clinic. Participants: Men in the age range of 60–80 years with post-COVID-19 Sarcopenia. Intervention: All participants received resistance training for whatever time of the day that they received it, and that in addition they were randomized into two groups like low-intensity aerobic training group ( n = 38) and high-intensity aerobic training group ( n = 38) for 30 minutes/session, 1 session/day, 4 days/week for 8 weeks. Outcomes: Clinical (muscle strength and muscle mass) and psychological (kinesiophobia and quality of life scales) measures were measured at the baseline, fourth week, the eighth week, and at six months follow-up. Results: The 2 × 4 group by time repeated measures MANOVA with corrected post-hoc tests for six dependent variables shows a significant difference between the groups ( P < 0.001). At the end of six months follow up, the handgrip strength, −3.9 (95% CI −4.26 to −3.53), kinesiophobia level 4.7 (95% CI 4.24 to 5.15), and quality of life −10.4 (95% CI −10.81 to −9.9) shows more improvement ( P < 0.001) in low-intensity aerobic training group than high-intensity aerobic training group, but in muscle mass both groups did not show any significant difference ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Low-intensity aerobic training exercises are more effective in improving the clinical (muscle strength) and psychological (kinesiophobia and quality of life) measures than high-intensity aerobic training in post-COVID 19 Sarcopenia.

Functional and Psychological Changes after Exercise Training in Post-COVID-19 Patients Discharged from the Hospital: A PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review

“…Figure 2 summarize the results of the risk of bias assessment for the non-randomized controlled trials evaluated in the present systematic review. The risk of bias was low in five studies [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], and there were some concerns in two studies [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Appropriate Timing and Type of Physical Training in Patients with COVID-19 for Muscle Health and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review

“…Sarcopenia is a muscle-related complication of COVID-19 among older adults. Nambi et al [ 18 ] conducted a study with 60–80 years male participants with post-COVID-19 sarcopenia, which was diagnosed by using the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (score of <7 kg/m 2 for men was indicative of sarcopenia) [ 18 ]. These patients received low-intensity aerobic training (LAT) and high-intensity aerobic training (HAT) for 8 weeks, with one 30-minute session per day for 4 days each week.…”

Skeletal Muscle in Hypoxia and Inflammation: Insights on the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For patients in whom this is not possible, the potential efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been shown (141). Table 1 report a pragmatic review of potential treatments for sarcopenia and weakness in patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (142)(143)(144)(145). Rehabilitation, i.e., regular exercise, has been shown to be effective in preventing and ameliorating the long-term debilitating effects of critical illness myopathy (146).…”