The effects of regular exercise and psychoeducation on quality of life, depression, and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia: A single-blind randomized controlled trial

Sarcopenia is a common geriatric syndrome associated with impaired physical function, depressive symptoms, and reduced quality of life. This trial aimed to compare the effects of exercise alone and exercise combined with psychoeducation on physical function, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia.

Forty older adults aged 60 years and over who were diagnosed with sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria, who were receiving residential care in a nursing home, and who met the study inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: exercise (E), exercise plus psychoeducation (EP), or control (C). The intervention lasted eight weeks. Functional mobility assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included handgrip strength, muscle mass assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, depressive symptoms assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale, and quality of life assessed by the SF-12. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention.

Both intervention groups demonstrated significantly greater improvements in functional mobility, depressive symptoms, and quality of life compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with exercise alone, the addition of psychoeducation resulted in greater reductions in depressive symptoms and larger improvements in both physical and mental components of quality of life (p < 0.05).

Exercise interventions, particularly when combined with psychoeducation, may represent an effective non-pharmacological approach to improving both physical and psychological outcomes in older adults with sarcopenia.

NCT06868602 / Registration Date: 03/07/2025.