Dose–response effects of resistance training on physical function in frail older Chinese adults: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose This randomized parallel controlled trial aimed to determine the effectiveness of graded progressive home-based resistance combined with aerobic exercise in improving physical fitness in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia. Patients and Methods Community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years) with sarcopenia were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG), receiving 12 weeks of graded progressive home-based resistance and aerobic exercise training, and the control group (CG), maintaining lifestyle unchanged. The primary outcomes were knee extensor muscle strength and the six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Intention-to-treat analysis was applied to the data from all participants in the CG and IG. Post-intervention differences between the intervention and control groups were determined using a generalized estimated equation model with pre-values adjusted. Results Data from all the participants in the IG (n=41) and CG (n=45) were analyzed. After the intervention, knee extensor muscle strength (95% CI: 0.140–3.460, P =0.036), 6MWD (95% CI: 35.350–80.010, P <0.001), flexor muscle strength and the results of 30s bicep curls, 30s chair stand, the chair sit and reach test and back stretch test in the IG were larger and value of the timed up-and-go test was smaller than those in the CG ( P <0.05). The body composition, quality of life and their changes showed no group differences. The attendance rates were 82.9% and 85.4% for resistance and aerobic exercise, respectively. Conclusion The 12-week graded progressive home-based resistance and aerobic exercise intervention improved muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia, whereas body composition and quality of life remained unchanged. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Soochow University (ECSU-2019000161) and registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900027960, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=45968 ).

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Comparison of Tele-rehabilitation and In-person Rehabilitation in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Zhang,

Ge,

Zhao

et al. 2024

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Sarcopenia is closely associated with poor quality of life and mortality and the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia represent a critical area of research, with significant implications for the health of the elderly population. Resistance training is an effective treatment for elderly patients with sarcopenia. However, due to reasons such as inadequate rehabilitation facilities, transportation barriers, financial constraints, and diminished physical ability, elderly patients with sarcopenia often face challenges when receiving traditional rehabilitation treatments at hospitals. OBJECTIVE This study aims to compare the effects of a digital rehabilitation program with traditional therapist-supervised rehabilitation training in elderly patients with sarcopenia. METHODS Fifty-eight sarcopenia patients, diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), were randomly assigned to the tele-rehabilitation group (TRG) or the in-person rehabilitation group (IRG) supervised by a therapist. Both groups underwent a 4-week resistance training program targeting six major muscle groups. The TRG group received exercise guidance via a mobile application, while the IRG group received in-person training from a therapist. Assessments of body composition, strength, balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and self-care ability were conducted before and after the intervention. Specific assessments included grip strength, 30-Second Arm Curl Test (30SACT), 30-Second Sitting-to-Rising Test (30SSRT), quadriceps femoris extension peak torque (EPT) and total power (ETP), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up-and-go test (TUGT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). RESULTS Fifty-one subjects completed this study. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in strength (grip strength, 30SACT, 30SSRT, quadriceps femoris EPT and ETP), balance (BBS), and IADL (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of changes in body composition, strength, balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and IADL. CONCLUSIONS A 4-week remote resistance training program is effective in improving strength, balance, and IADL in elderly patients with sarcopenia, with effects comparable to rehabilitation supervised by a physical therapist. Tele-rehabilitation may be a convenient and effective alternative for elderly sarcopenia patients who have limited access to rehabilitation resources. CLINICALTRIAL http://www.chictr.org.cn/, ChiCTR 2300071648, May 22, 2023.

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Dose–response effects of resistance training on physical function in frail older Chinese adults: A randomized controlled trial

Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

Effectiveness of resistance training on body composition, muscle strength, and biomarker in sarcopenic older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effectiveness of resistance training on body composition, muscle strength, and biomarker in sarcopenic older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Graded Progressive Home-Based Resistance Combined with Aerobic Exercise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparison of Tele-rehabilitation and In-person Rehabilitation in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

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