Sarcopenia
Conditions
Keywords
Elastic Resistance Training, Resistance Exercise, Handgrip Strength, Older Adults, Muscle Strength, Physical Performance
Brief summary
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by loss of muscle strength and muscle mass, which may contribute to reduced physical function and independence in older adults. Resistance exercise is recommended as an important component of sarcopenia management. Elastic resistance training is a simple and practical form of resistance exercise that can be performed with minimal equipment and may be suitable for older adults living in long-term care facilities. This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether adding elastic resistance training to routine physical exercise improves handgrip strength in older adults with sarcopenia. Participants were assigned to either routine physical exercise combined with elastic resistance training or routine physical exercise alone for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was change in handgrip strength. Secondary outcomes included physical performance, mobility, gait speed, and body composition.
Detailed description
Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related decline in skeletal muscle strength and muscle mass that is associated with impaired mobility, reduced physical performance, increased risk of falls, and loss of independence in older adults. Resistance exercise is considered an important non-pharmacological intervention for maintaining and improving muscle function in this population. Elastic resistance training provides progressive resistance using elastic bands and can be implemented with relatively simple equipment, making it potentially suitable for older adults residing in long-term care facilities. This study was designed as an 8-week randomized controlled trial to evaluate the additional effect of elastic resistance training when combined with routine physical exercise in older adults with sarcopenia residing at Griya Werdha Surabaya. Participants were randomly allocated into two parallel groups. The experimental group received routine physical exercise plus elastic resistance training, while the active comparator group continued routine physical exercise alone. Elastic resistance training was performed using progressive resistance exercises. Exercise intensity and volume were gradually increased according to participants' tolerance and performance during the intervention period. Routine physical exercise consisted of the regular exercise program provided at the facility. The primary outcome was handgrip strength, assessed before and after the 8-week intervention. Secondary outcomes included mobility and lower-extremity physical performance assessed using the Timed Up and Go test, Short Physical Performance Battery, five-times sit-to-stand test, 6-meter gait speed, and body composition assessment. The study aimed to determine whether the addition of elastic resistance training to routine physical exercise provides greater improvement in handgrip strength and functional performance than routine physical exercise alone in older adults with sarcopenia.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALElastic Resistance Training
Participants performed progressive elastic resistance training in addition to routine physical exercise for 8 weeks. Training was performed 2-3 sessions per week, with exercise volume progressively increased from 1-3 sets to 3 sets of 8-15 repetitions. Exercise intensity was guided using the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale, progressing from moderate intensity (OMNI-RES 5-7) toward higher intensity as tolerated. Rest intervals between sets were approximately 60-120 seconds
BEHAVIORALRoutine Physical Exercise
Participants continued the routine physical exercise program provided at the long-term care facility for 8 weeks. The program consisted of non-progressive group exercise sessions performed approximately 2-3 times per week for 30-45 minutes per session
Sponsors
Dr. Soetomo General Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessments were performed by an assessor who was independent of participant allocation and intervention delivery and was blinded to group assignment during the outcome assessments.
Intervention model description
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: routine physical exercise plus elastic resistance training or routine physical exercise alone for 8 weeks.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 60 years or older residing at Griya Wreda Jambangan, Surabaya. * Diagnosed with sarcopenia according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria. * Able to ambulate independently, with or without a walking aid, with a Barthel Index score of at least 60. * Adequate visual and hearing function. * No cognitive impairment that would interfere with understanding and following instructions, defined as a MoCA-INA score of at least 26. * Body mass index of 18.5-24.9 kg/m² according to the Asia-Pacific classification. * Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Cardiorespiratory disease that may impair physical performance during exercise, including New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, aneurysm, severe aortic stenosis, acute endocarditis or pericarditis, persistent asthma, or acute/severe respiratory failure. * Blood pressure ≥180/100 mmHg. * Uncontrolled postural hypotension. * Acute thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis. * Fracture within the previous 3 months, or a fracture older than 3 months that has not united or would interfere with the intervention. * Infectious disease affecting general condition or ability to participate in exercise. * Musculoskeletal disorder, including lower-extremity muscle or joint pain with Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale score ≥4 accompanied by swelling, redness, or local warmth. * Chronic disease impairing mobility or handgrip function, including ambulatory impairment due to stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, balance disorders due to intracranial or extracranial conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, other neurologic disorders affecting balance, arthritis, finger contracture, or finger amputation. * Participation in another specialized physical exercise program other than the routine conventional exercise program at the long-term care facility within the previous 3 months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Handgrip Strength | Baseline and 8 weeks | Handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer. The change in handgrip strength from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention was evaluated. Higher values indicate greater handgrip strength |
Countries
Indonesia
Outcome results
None listed