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Physical exercise for primary sarcopenia: an expert opinion.
Antimo Moretti1, Federica Tomaino1, Marco Paoletta2
1Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties and Dentistry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
|April 14, 2025
Summary
Sarcopenia, an age-related muscle disease, is best treated with multimodal therapeutic exercise, including strength, aerobic, and balance training. Tailored exercise prescriptions are crucial for improving muscle mass, strength, and function in affected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Exercise Physiology
- Muscle Diseases and Aging
Background:
- Sarcopenia is defined as the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, now recognized as a distinct muscle disease (ICD-10: M62.84).
- Current diagnostic processes involve questionnaires and objective measures of muscle strength and mass.
- International guidelines recommend therapeutic exercise to combat sarcopenia, though evidence often stems from non-sarcopenic populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline evidence-based therapeutic exercise strategies for managing sarcopenia.
- To emphasize the importance of multimodal exercise programs tailored to individual patient needs.
- To provide specific recommendations for exercise prescription in sarcopenic patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of international guidelines and supporting evidence for therapeutic exercise in sarcopenia.
- Analysis of different exercise modalities: muscle strengthening, aerobic training, and balance control.
- Consideration of patient-specific factors, including clinical status and preferences.
Main Results:
- Multimodal exercise programs, combining strength, aerobic, and balance training, are most effective for improving muscle mass, strength, and physical performance.
- Muscle strengthening should target large muscle groups, progressing from 50-60% to 60-80% of 1 repetition maximum (RM) over at least two days/week.
- Aerobic training enhances endurance and mitochondrial function, while balance training (≥3 times/week) reduces fall risk.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive, multimodal therapeutic exercise programs are essential for the functional recovery and well-being of patients with sarcopenia.
- Precise exercise prescription (intensity, volume, frequency, duration) is vital to maintain benefits and prevent loss during inactivity.
- Adopting structured protocols can significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
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