Optimal exercise to improve physical ability and performance in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective: The study aimed to pool and analyze the effects of different forms of exercise on muscle strength (handgrip strength [HGS]), and physical performance (timed up and go test [TUGT], gait speed [GS] and chair stand test [CS]) in older adults with sarcopenia.

Methods: The effect sizes of all studies retrieved and included by the four databases were analyzed using the network meta-analysis and expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Twenty studies were included in this study with 1347 older adults with sarcopenia. Compared with control and other intervention groups, resistance training (RT) improved HGS [SMD=3.8, 95% CI (1.3, 6.0), p<0.05] and TUGT [SMD = -1.99, 95% CI (-2.82, -1.16), p<0.05] significantly. comprehensive training (CT) [SMD = -2.04, 95% CI (-3.05, -1.06), Pp<0.05] and Comprehensive training under self-management (CT_SM) [SMD = -2.01, 95% CI (-3.24, -0.78), p<0.05] improved TUGT significantly.

Conclusion: In older adults with sarcopenia, RT could improve HGS and TUGT, CT and CT_SM could improve TUGT. There were no significant changes in CS and GS with any of the exercise training modes.