Exercise for Sarcopenia

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Disqualifiers: Relatively unhealthy

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Participants will be 60-80 y men and women who vary their physical activity (steps/day) while their lipid metabolism is studied (n=24). Thereafter, another group (n=60) will perform 6 months of exercise training focused on developing maximal cycling power, during which their changes in muscle mass and practical function will be carefully measured.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise, Physical Activity, Workout, Fitness Training for sarcopenia?

Research shows that exercise can help improve muscle mass and strength in older adults with sarcopenia, although the results can vary. Resistance exercise, in particular, has been found to be effective in combating sarcopenia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is exercise safe for humans, especially older adults with sarcopenia?

Exercise, including resistance training, is generally safe for humans and can improve muscle strength, physical performance, and body composition in older adults with sarcopenia. It is considered a beneficial therapy with protective effects and is often safer and less expensive than other interventions. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

How does exercise as a treatment for sarcopenia differ from other treatments?

Exercise is unique for treating sarcopenia because it improves muscle function by enhancing mitochondrial health, which is crucial for energy production in cells. Unlike medications, exercise can increase muscle strength and endurance without side effects, and it can be tailored to individual needs and capabilities. ^{6 7 10 11 12}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for relatively healthy men and women aged between 60-80 years who are interested in participating in an exercise program to combat muscle loss (sarcopenia) and improve heart health. Those considered relatively unhealthy cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Relatively healthy

Exclusion Criteria

This criterion is not specific enough to provide a clear understanding. Can you please provide additional details or context for this criterion?

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Activity Monitoring

Participants' daily step counts are monitored to determine the range needed to prevent impairment of fat metabolism

1 month

1 visit (in-person) for baseline assessment

Exercise Training

Participants perform a 24-week exercise program focused on developing maximal cycling power to counteract sarcopenia

24 weeks

Regular visits for exercise sessions and monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the exercise training

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise

Trial Overview The study involves two parts: initially, participants will vary their daily physical activity while researchers study changes in fat metabolism. Then, a second group will undergo six months of exercise training aimed at increasing cycling power to see how it affects muscle mass and function.

Participant Groups

Group I: Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Six months of power training

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Findings from Research

Moderate- to high-quality evidence indicates that exercise significantly improves walking speed and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia, supporting its role as an effective intervention.

While exercise may enhance muscle strength, particularly in grip strength, the improvements may not be substantial enough to meet patient-important differences, highlighting the need for further research on quality of life outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Exercise on Patients Important Outcomes in Older People With Sarcopenia: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials. Shen, Y., Liu, D., Li, S., et al.[2022]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Exercise on Patients Important Outcomes in Older People With Sarcopenia: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2022]

2. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Short-Term Mixed Exercise Program for Treating Sarcopenia in Hospitalized Patients Aged 80 Years and Older: A Prospective Clinical Trial. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of Sarcopenia Among Community-Dwelling At-Risk Frail Adults Aged 65 Years and Older Who Received Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gender, Success, and Drop-Out during a Resistance Exercise Program in Community Dwelling Old Adults. [2020]

5. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise interventions in healthy older adults with sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sarcopenia and age-related changes in body composition and functional capacity. [2022]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects and Moderators of Exercise on Sarcopenic Components in Sarcopenic Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of nutritional and exercise interventions to improve body composition and muscle strength or function in sarcopenic obese older adults: A systematic review. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reversing sarcopenia: how weight training can build strength and vitality. [2005]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity and sarcopenia. [2013]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advances in exercise to alleviate sarcopenia in older adults by improving mitochondrial dysfunction. [2023]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of elastic band training and group-based dance on physical-functional performance in older women with sarcopenia: a pilot study. [2023]