Effects of a Multicomponent Exercise Program in Physical Function and Muscle Mass in Sarcopenic/Pre-Sarcopenic Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on physical function and muscle mass in older adults with sarcopenia or pre-sarcopenia. Moreover, we aim to standardize the exercise program for easy incorporation in the daily life of community-dwelling older adults as a secondary outcome. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals (≥60 years) who had sarcopenia or pre-sarcopenia (n = 72). Participants were randomly assigned to the exercise and control groups. The exercise program consisted of 12 weekly 60-min sessions that included resistance, balance, flexibility, and aerobic training. Outcome measures were physical function and muscle mass. Assessments were conducted before and immediately after the intervention. Among the 72 participants (mean age: 75.0 ± 6.9 years; 70.8% women), 67 (93.1%) completed the trial. Group-by-time interactions on the chair stand (p = 0.02) and timed “up and go” (p = 0.01) tests increased significantly in the exercise group. Although the exercise group showed a tendency to prevent loss of muscle mass, no significant interaction effects were observed for cross-sectional muscle area and muscle volume. The 12-week exercise program improved physical function in the intervention group. Although it is unclear whether the program is effective in increasing muscle mass, a multicomponent exercise program would be an effective treatment for physical function among older adults with sarcopenia.

Effects and Moderators of Exercise on Sarcopenic Components in Sarcopenic Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Of note, the diagnostic sarcopenia was based on the two criteria, EWGSOP and AWGS. Eleven studies ( 31 – 33 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 46 , 47 ) used BIA, and six studies ( 34 , 36 , 39 , 41 , 44 , 45 ) used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure the body composition. A large proportion (74%) of females was evaluated in the included studies (7/17 studies were all females).…”

Association of Oral Hypofunction with Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study of Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults

“…Participants meeting three or more criteria were considered frailty. Sarcopenia was assessed using the 2016 evaluation criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia [ 26 , 27 ]. The National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool was used to evaluate mild cognitive impairment [ 28 ].…”

Effects of multi-domain lifestyle interventions on sarcopenia measures and blood biomarkers: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of community-dwelling pre-frail and frail older adults

“…Clinical trial studies show that the effect of conventional nutritional interventions alone on muscle mass and strength in sarcopenic elderly subjects are limited [ 6 , 7 ], but recent studies suggest that specific nutritional supplements such as leucine-enriched whey protein and vitamin D may increase muscle mass and muscle function in sarcopenic and malnourished older patients [ 8 – 11 ]. Physical exercise alone [ 12 – 14 ] or with nutritional intervention [ 15 – 25 ] are consistently shown to improve muscle mass, strength and gait speed in older adults with sarcopenia. Cognitive performance and decline are reportedly associated with handgrip strength and sarcopenia in older persons [ 26 ], and cognitive training has been shown to maintain and improve gait speed and balance [ 27 , 28 ], but its effect on sarcopenia is largely unrecognized.…”