Abstract
ObjectiveWe conducted a meta-analysis to analyze the effects of resistance training on measures of body composition, muscle strength, and muscle performance in older people with sarcopenia.MethodsAll randomized controlled trials on the effects of resistance training on outcome variables in older people with sarcopenia were searched on Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang. Data from January 2010 to October 2020 were reviewed. Two researchers extracted data and evaluated the quality of the studies that met the inclusion criteria independently. Meta-analysis for pre-post changes were calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsFourteen studies meeting inclusion criteria included 561 healthy older adults (age 65.8 to 82.8) with sarcopenia. Compared with the control group, resistance training had positive effects on body fat mass (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI − 0.81 to − 0.25, p = 0.0002, I2 = 0%), handgrip strength (SMD = 0.81, 95%CI 0.35 to 1.27, p = 0.0005, I2 = 81%), knee extension strength (SMD = 1.26, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.80, p < 0.0001, I2 = 67%), gait speed (SMD = 1.28, 95%CI 0.36 to 2.19, p = 0.006, I2 = 89%), and the timed up and go test (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI − 1.30 to − 0.56, p < 0.0001, I2 = 23%). Resistance training had no effects on appendicular skeletal muscle mass (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI − 0.27 to 0.78, p = 0.35, I2 = 68%), skeletal muscle mass (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI − 0.02 to 0.56, p = 0.07, I2 = 0%) and leg lean mass (SMD = 0.12, 95% CI − 0.25 to 0.50, p = 0.52, I2 = 0%). Old people with sarcopenia of different ages, genders or diagnostic criteria and weights have different gains in muscle mass, handgrip strength, knee extension strength and muscle performance after different intervention duration, frequencies, mode and intensity resistance training.ConclusionResistance training is an effective treatment to improve body fat mass, muscle strength, and muscle performance in healthy older people with sarcopenia.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by a progressive, generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass, combined with a decline in muscle strength and performance [1]
Resistance training had no effects on appendicular skeletal muscle mass
Inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) all subjects were diagnosed with sarcopenia according to any established definitions; (b) aged>60 years; (c) without other chronic diseases, such as cancer, COPD, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and osteoporosis; (d) studies include at least one type of resistance training; (e) a comparison or control group with a noexercise intervention or that performed other interventions; (f) outcomes to include body composition (skeletal muscle mass [SMM], leg lean muscle mass [LMM], appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), body fat mass [BFM]), muscle strength (KES, hand grip strength (HGS)), and muscle performance (GS), and timed up and go [TUG])
Summary
Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by a progressive, generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass, combined with a decline in muscle strength and performance [1]. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) reported that the prevalence of sarcopenia in persons aged ≥50 years, ranged from 1 to 29% in community-dwelling populations, 14 to 33% in long-term care settings, and 10% in an acute care setting [2]. Sarcopenia increases the risks of adverse outcomes such as falls and fractures [4] and is associated with cognitive impairment [5], respiratory [6] and sleep disorders [7], poor quality of life, and premature death [8, 9]. This brings a heavy economic burden to societies and families if sarcopenia is untreated [10]. As sarcopenia is a strong indicator for predicting the risk of disability, morbidity, and mortality in middle- and older age people, its treatment and prevention should receive high attention from society and clinical staff [11]
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