Abstract
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass and function. Exercise treatment has been the most commonly used intervention among elderly populations. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the available literature related to the effects of exercise interventions/programs on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Web of Science for randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials exploring exercise in older adults with sarcopenia published through July 2019 without any language restrictions. Pooled analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3, with standardized mean differences (SMDs) and fixed-effect models. A total of 3898 titles and abstracts were initially identified, and 22 studies (1041 individuals, 80.75% females, mean age ranged from 60.51 to 85.90 years) were included in the meta-analysis. The exercise programs in the studies consisted of 30 to 80 min of training, with 1 to 5 training sessions weekly for 6 to 36 weeks. Muscle strength (grip strength [SMD 0.57, 95 % CI 0.42 to 0.73, P <0.00001] and timed five chair stands [SMD -0.56, 95 % CI -0.85 to -0.28, P < 0.0001]) and physical performance (gait speed [SMD 0.44, 95 % CI 0.26 to 0.61, P < 0.00001] and the timed up and go test [SMD -0.97, 95 % CI -1.22 to -0.72, P < 0.00001]) showed significant improvement following exercise treatment, while no differences in muscle mass (ASM [SMD 0.15, 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.36, P = 0.15] and ASM/height2 [SMD 0.21, 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.48, P = 0.12]) were detected. Exercise programs showed overall significant positive effects on muscle strength and physical performance but not on muscle mass in sarcopenic older adults.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass and function
Previous literature regarding exercise interventions suggested muscle strength and physical performance, even muscle mass have been increased in older adults with sarcopenia, whereas no consensus recommendations on physical exercise for the prevention of sarcopenia have been made due to the existence of multiple contributing variables [15]
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, existing evidence from 22 randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials demonstrated that any type of exercises significantly improved muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia
Summary
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass and function. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the available literature related to the effects of exercise interventions/programs on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia. Exercise programs showed overall significant positive effects on muscle strength and physical performance but not on muscle mass in sarcopenic older adults. Previous literature regarding exercise interventions suggested muscle strength and physical performance, even muscle mass have been increased in older adults with sarcopenia, whereas no consensus recommendations on physical exercise for the prevention of sarcopenia have been made due to the existence of multiple contributing variables [15]. This study aims to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials and systematically assess the effects of exercise programs on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia
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