Effect of Home-Based Exercise Program on Physical Function and Balance in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: A Multicenter...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Sarcopenia, characterized by age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, significantly impacts mobility and quality of life.
• Effective interventions are crucial to mitigate the functional decline associated with sarcopenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a home-based exercise program in improving physical function, balance, and quality of life in patients diagnosed with sarcopenia.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter study involving 100 patients with sarcopenia.
• Participants were assigned to either a home-based exercise group or a control group.
• The exercise program included progressive posture, stretching, muscle strengthening, balance, coordination, and gait training over 3 months.

Main Results:

• The home-based exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in the 6-minute walking test and Berg Balance Scale scores compared to controls.
• Significant reductions in the timed up and go test scores were observed in the exercise group.
• Quality of life showed a significant improvement in patients undertaking the home-based exercise program.

Conclusions:

• A home-based exercise program is an effective intervention for enhancing physical function and balance in individuals with sarcopenia.
• This exercise regimen positively impacts the quality of life for patients suffering from sarcopenia.